Brewers pitching breezes through 2-0 shutout over Cubs

Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports With their playoff chances hanging by a thread and a patchwork lineup due to injuries, the Brewers desperately needed an early lead and a strong pitching performance.

They got both Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field.

Manny Pina drove in 2 runs in the first inning off Cole Hamels, Zach Davies bounced back from a month of rough starts to shut out Chicago over 4 2/3 innings, and the bullpen shut the door after that as the Brewers stayed alive in the playoff race with a 2-0 win.

Neither team could get much going offensively with the wind blowing in from right field at Wrigley, but the Brewers were able to take advantage of some shaky command by Hamels and an iffy…