Brewers gain momentum after first series win

CHICAGO -- For the first time all season, the Brewers could debate Sunday whether two victories in a row would constitute a "winning streak."

A 5-3 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field gave the Brewers their first series win all season and, coupled with Saturday's win, left the Texas Rangers as the only team in Major League Baseball yet to win back-to-back games.

But is it a streak?

"No, no, no. Four or five, that's a winning streak," said Francisco Rodriguez, who pitched around a hit in the ninth inning for his fourth save. "In the situation we are, it's not like we can win two, lose one. We need seven out of 10. We need to think always in a positive way."

Two in a row marked a start.

"We're playing better, no question," Rodriguez said. "Now we have to start over, pretty much and pick it up. It's always nice when you win series. Now we have a lot of work to do."

The Brewers had not gone this deep into a season without winning a series since 1972, when they beat the Angels in a standalone series opener (the start of that season was impacted by a players strike) before losing or splitting eight straight series. Finally, that team took two of three games in Detroit from May 23-25.

The '72 Brewers finished that season with a 65-91 record.

The 2015 Brewers still have hope for better.

"I think we're just getting healthy," said third baseman Aramis Ramirez, who hit a solo home run in the second inning and a go-ahead, two-run single in the eighth. "We got [center fielder Carlos Gomez] back, we're starting to swing the bats better. We've had ready good pitching, especially in this series. That's the key. If you pitch good, you're going to win some ballgames."

Video: MIL@CHC: Ramirez opens scoring with solo shot

The Brewers have also been getting more from their core hitters. Braun hit four home runs on the road trip. Ramirez has hit safely in eight of the last nine games he's played, including his only two multi-RBI games of the season.

Ramirez credited work in the batting cage to fix an issue of balance.

"I've been swinging the bat well the last week or so," he said. "I worked hard. Struggled in the beginning, but I think I'm starting to turn it around."

The Brewers still have the worst record in baseball at 7-18. They host the National League West-leading Dodgers for four games at Miller Park beginning Monday.

"It's Major League Baseball, and you can't keep a team down too long -- even some of the teams struggling the most will find a good game here or there," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "We've all been through it."