In Game 1 of a critical four-game series, the Chicago Cubs rallied for 2 runs off Milwaukee closer Solomon Torres in the 9th inning & beat the Brewers 6-4 on Monday evening from Miller Park.

The Cubs struck immediately to take the lead in the top of the 1st inning after Alfonso Soriano led off the game with a double against Brewers starter C.C. Sabathia.

2 batters later, Soriano stole 3rd base & scored on Derrek Lee’s RBI single to give Chicago a 1-0 lead.

The Cubs had a chance to score an additional run after Geovany Soto hit a 2-out single to put runners on 1st & 2nd with 2 outs, but Mark DeRosa grounded out to J.J. Hardy at shortstop to end the inning.

Milwaukee had a chance to tie the game after Ryan Braun drew a 2-out walk from Chicago starter Ted Lilly.

Prince Fielder then singled to put runners at the corners for Corey Hart, who struck out to end the scoring threat.

The Cubs then scored another run off Sabathia thanks to Alfonso Soriano’s 3rd inning solo homer (17th of season) to give Chicago a 2-0 lead.

Milwaukee then had a chance to score in the bottom of the 3rd inning after C.C. Sabathia hit a lead-off single against Lilly.

Rickie Weeks then reached 1st base safely on a fielders choice (Sabathia was out at 2nd) & stole 2nd base during J.J. Hardy’s at-bat, who popped out to Ryan Theriot at shortstop.

Ryan Braun then ended the scoring threat with his lineout to Derrek Lee at 1st base.

The Cubs had a chance to extend their 2-run lead in the top of the 6th inning after Derrek Lee’s lead-off single against Sabathia.

2 batters later, Geovany Soto walked to put runners at 1st & 2nd with just 1 out for Mark DeRosa.

DeRosa then singled to center & Cubs 3rd baseman decided to send Lee home from 2nd base, but Brewers center fielder Mike Cameron gunned Lee down at home plate for the out.

With Soto at 2nd base & 2 outs, Ryan Theriot hit a grounder to 1st base & almost reached on an infield single, but Sabathia beat him to the bag to end the inning.

Milwaukee then struck for their biggest run-scoring frame in the bottom of the 6th inning, which started with J.J. Hardy’s 1-out solo homer (15th of season) off Lilly to make it a 2-1 Cub lead.

Ryan Braun then tied it 2-2 on his solo homer (29th of season) off Lilly.

Prince Fielder then followed with a bloop single to left field before Corey Hart brought him home with an RBI double to give Milwaukee a 3-2 lead.

Hart tried to advance to 3rd base on the play, but was gunned down by Derrek Lee’s throw to Aramis Ramirez.

The Cubs then rallied in the top of the 7th inning to re-take the lead after Ronny Cedeno hit a lead-off single against Sabathia.

Pinch-hitter Kosuke Fukudome then followed with a single to put runners at 1st & 2nd with nobody out for Alfonso Soriano.

Soriano struck out, but the Cubs ended up executing a double steal as Cedeno & Fukudome were both able to take 2nd & 3rd base respectively on the play.

After Reed Johnson drew a walk, Derrek Lee hit a groundball to J.J. Hardy which looked like it would be an inning-ending doubleplay.

However, Rickie Weeks’ throw to 1st base was off-line & it allowed both Cedeno & Fukudome to score & give Chicago a 4-3 lead.

With Lee on 2nd base with 2 outs, Aramis Ramirez flied out to Ryan Braun in left field to end the inning.

Milwaukee then again tied the game 4-4 in the bottom of the 7th inning on Russell Branyan’s pinch-hit 2-out solo homer (12th of season) off Chicago reliever Bob Howry.

The Cubs were able to put together a game-winning rally in the top of the 9th inning, which started with Alfonso Soriano’s 1-out walk against Brewers closer Solomon Torres.

Mike Fontenot then drew a walk to put runners at 1st & 2nd with just 1 out for Derrek Lee.

Lee delivered the game-winning hit,  as he drove an RBI double to right field & scored Soriano from 2nd base to give Chicago a 5-4 lead.

3 batters later, Mark DeRosa reached on an infield single after Brewers shortstop J.J. Hardy was late with his throw at 2nd base, which enabled Fontenot to score from 3rd base & give the Cubs a 6-4 lead.

Ryan Theriot then grounded out to Torres which ended the inning.

Cubs temporary closer Carlos Marmol then came on to pitch the bottom of the 9th inning & retired the first 2 batters before issuing a 2-out walk to Jason Kendall.

Marmol then appeared to end the game on a strikeout to Gabe Kapler, but Kapler barely stayed alive to earn himself another chance.

Kapler nearly tied the game with a drive to deep left field, but Alfonso Soriano caught it at the edge of the warning track to end the game.

Chad Gaudin (2-1) gets his 2nd win in 2 days with the Cubs after pitching a scoreless 8th inning & striking out the side.

Solomon Torres (5-3) takes the loss for the Brewers after allowing 2 runs in the 9th inning which enabled the Cubs to take the lead for good.

Carlos Marmol pitched a scoreless 9th inning for his 5th save of the season, while Bob Howry gets his 2nd blown save after allowing Branyan’s game-tying solo homer in the 7th inning.

The Cubs’ NL Central lead is now up to 2 games, which they will look to extend Tuesday evening as a pair of All-Stars hook up in Game 2 of this big 4-game series at Miller Park.

Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano (11-4, 2.96) will be opposed by Brewers ace Ben Sheets (10-3, 2.87).

10 of Zambrano’s 11 wins this season have come under the lights, as Carlos is 10-3 in 14 night starts with a 2.63 ERA.

Zambrano has faced Milwaukee already twice this season & has given up just 1 run against them in 13 innings of work.

Sheets is 6-1 in 9 night starts this season with a 2.04 ERA & is 10-7 in 24 career starts against Chicago with a 3.76 ERA.

Sheets has already faced the Cubs twice this season & is 1-0 in 2 starts with a 2.38 ERA, but has faced control issues as he has 9 walks to go along with his 9 strikeouts.

Signing off for now,