MILWAUKEE – Glendon Rusch did his part to help Chicago’s injury-riddled pitching staff.

Rusch filled in for Mark Prior with five solid innings and the Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 11-4 Sunday for their third straight win.

Rusch (3-7) allowed two runs and four hits in his first start since June 16. He struck out five and walked two.

Aramis Ramirez hit his 16th homer and went 3-for-4, Jacque Jones finished with three hits and scored two runs, and Matt Murton had two RBIs for Chicago.

The Cubs head into the All-Star break in fifth place in the NL Central with a 34-54 record but they’re hoping their winning streak will lead to bigger things in the second half.

With the break following Sunday’s game, Baker was able to use six relievers over the final four innings.

The Cubs scored three runs in the sixth to take a 7-2 lead. Pinch-hitter Phil Nevin walked with the bases loaded and Pierre followed with a two-run double down the left-field line.

Ronny Cedeno followed with a perfect suicide squeeze bunt, scoring Jones to make it 4-2.