Levine: Home Runs Ignite Cubs' Seventh Straight Win

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) – "Cub Power" was a marketing term used by the team in the late-1960s to promote the likes of Ernie Banks, Billy Williams and Ron Santo while they were hitting the ball out of Wrigley Field on a regular basis.

The new wrecking crew of Kyle Schwarber, Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant is starting to heat up as the summer moves into its final month. The Cubs pounded five home runs on Thursday, including two from Schwarber, en route to their seventh straight victory and 9-2 ambush of the Brewers.

The red-hot Cubs have won 13 of their last 14 games. On Thursday, manager Joe Maddon got just enough out of starter Jon Lester before the Cubs' home runs turned the game into a laugh fest.

Taking advantage of Lester's reluctance to throw to first base, Milwaukee stole five bases on the veteran pitcher. Lester pitched around his phobia by allowing just two runs in his six innings of work.

"Jonny was outstanding again," Maddon said. "He had to battle through some moments, but he was really, really good. Give the Brewers credit, they had some really good at-bats. We played well and are just playing really good baseball right now."

Schwarber had his second career two-home run game and his first at Wrigley Field. His four RBIs tied his career-high. The catcher-turned-outfielder broke out of his first prolonged slump (0-for-12) with a three-hit day.

"He has such a short, compact left-handed swing," said Maddon, trying to find a comparable hitting technique. "Going through the mental Rolodex, if you watch Chase Utley swing, that little short thing he does in his hack, maybe it's similar to that."

The hot streak has been a blast for the 23-year-old Schwarber and his teammates to experience. With the win, the Cubs closed to within one game of the Pirates for the top NL wild-card spot.

"You go back in time and look at great lineups," said Lester, who has been on Boston teams with good ones. "The pitcher doesn't get a break until he gets closer to the bottom of our lineup. You move Rizzo to the two hole and Kyle to the three hole. Now you can go Kris or Rizz or whatever you want to do. This just makes our lineup that much stronger. It's really good to see how these guys have developed and come into their own."

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.