Lester, Cubs blank Brewers 8-0; Knebel likely to DL

   MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Jon Lester pitched six sharp innings and hit a tricky grounder that was tough to corral as the Chicago Cubs beat the frustrated and fragile Milwaukee Brewers 8-0 Thursday night.

   Brewers star closer Corey Knebel exited with a hamstring injury while getting some work in the ninth inning. Manager Craig Counsell said Knebel will get an MRI and likely go on the disabled list.

   Knebel clutched his left hamstring as fell to the ground after throwing a pitch to Tommy La Stella, and had to be helped off the field.

   Milwaukee third baseman Travis Shaw also left early -- an animated argument got him ejected in the sixth.

   Shaw verbally disagreed with plate umpire Brian O'Nora's called third strike and walked to the dugout. He turned, said more to O'Nora and was tossed. Shaw then sprinted toward the umpire to have one final say before being restrained.

   Jason Heyward homered for the Cubs, who had been shut out in the previous two games.

   Milwaukee was blanked for the second straight day after has lost three of four since a 3-0 start.

   Lester (1-0) allowed three hits, struck out six and walked one for Chicago, which played for the first time since Monday. The Cubs were rained out in Cincinnati on Tuesday and were off on Wednesday.

   Cubs relievers Carl Edwards Jr., Steve Cishek and Eddie Butler each pitched an inning.

   Brent Suter (1-1) pitched five innings and allowed five runs on eight hits and three walks.

   The Cubs scored three times in the second, starting with a two-run single by Javier Baez.

   Lester followed a grounder that glanced off the glove of Suter and went under the mitt of second baseman Hernan Perez, who was charged with an error. The ball kept rolling and trickled in and out of the glove of center fielder Lorenzo Cain, who also was charged with an error that allowing Baez to score from first with a head-first slide.

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   Brewers: OF Christian Yelich was not in Milwaukee's lineup with right oblique tightness. He was removed from the game against St. Louis in the seventh inning Wednesday.