Cubs 4, Brewers 1

CHICAGO (AP) – Mark Prior left with discomfort in his right elbow in the second inning Thursday night before the Chicago Cubs rallied for a 4-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Derrek Lee homered in the second and had an RBI double in a three-run sixth on a night when Prior’s premature departure marred Chicago’s victory.

After missing the first two months with right Achilles’ tendinitis and a tender elbow, Prior was making just his eighth start of the season.

And it was a short one.

The Cubs were hoping he and Kerry Wood, who was activated Sunday off the DL, would lead them to a strong second half after they fell seven behind St. Louis in the NL Central.

Instead, it’s another setback in a season of incessant injuries.

Prior, Wood, Sammy Sosa, Alex Gonzalez, Todd Hollandsworth, Kent Mercker, Mike Remlinger, Mark Grudzielanek, Todd Wellemeyer and Joe Borowski have all been sidelined at some point this season. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez has been out since July 2 with a groin strain.

The Cubs, who managed just two runs while being swept in a three-game series a week ago at Miller Park, tied Thursday’s game on Lee’s 13th homer off Doug Davis (9-7).

Chicago’s three-run sixth started when Milwaukee shortstop Craig Counsell fumbled Jose Macias’ grounder for an error.

Corey Patterson singled and Macias slid under Wes Helms’ glove at third before scoring on a wild pitch. When Scott Podsednik missed a diving catch of Moises Alou’s sinking liner, it went for an RBI triple. Lee then greeted reliever Jeff Bennett with a double to make it 4-1.

Podsednik doubled leading off the game, moved over on a fly and scored on Geoff Jenkins’ sacrifice fly.

Glendon Rusch (5-1), 1-12 with the Brewers last season, allowed just three hits in 5 1-3 scoreless innings after replacing Prior.

LaTroy Hawkins pitched the ninth for his 12th save in 16 chances.

The Brewers loaded the bases in the eighth on two walks and pinch-hitter Brooks Kieschnick’s infield single off Kyle Farnsworth before Bill Hall struck out.

With one out in the second, Prior got Milwaukee’s Chad Moeller to hit a grounder to Lee at first. Prior started off the mound to go to first before Lee made the play unassisted.

Trainer Dave Groeschner and pitching coach Larry Rothschild quickly went to the mound and consulted with Prior before Rusch was called in from the bullpen.

Prior threw 30 pitches in a long first inning and six more in the second before leaving.

Prior was 18-6 last season, including 10-1 during the Cubs’ run to the playoffs. He was 2-2 this season before Thursday night’s start.