Travis Shaw hit a two-run homer, Zach Davies earned his major league-best 17th win and the Brewers beat Chicago 3-1 Sunday to close within two games of the NL Central leaders.
"It's going to be a fun September," Davies said.
Chicago entered the series with a five-game division lead, a season high, but the defending World Series champions totaled three runs in the series. Milwaukee is tied for second in the NL Central with St. Louis.
Davies (17-8) allowed one run and seven hits in seven innings, Anthony Swarzak pitched a hitless eighth and Corey Knebel finished for his 34th save in 39 chances.
"He's a lot to handle for the hitters," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said of Davies
Kyle Hendricks (6-5) gave up three runs and four hits in six innings.
"Kyle was outstanding today," Chicago manager Joe Maddon said. "We just were unable to string together any hits, and our power has been negated a bit."
Rene Rivera put the Cubs ahead with a two-out RBI double in the second. Right fielder Hernan Perez didn't break back at first, and the ball hit off his glove.
Stephen Vogt hit an RBI grounder in the fourth, and Shaw homered in the sixth — despite a stiff wind blowing in from right field.
"Honestly, that's about as good as I can hit a ball," Shaw said. "I thought it went too high. I thought the wind was going to knock it down."