8/4 Extra bases

The 15 runs the Cubs scored Wednesday against the Brewers were the most since they totaled 17 on Aug. 14, 2009, against the Pirates. Ten of the 15 runs were scored with two outs.

“For them it was probably a matter of time,” Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun said of the Cubs. “They’re a great offense. At some point, you figure they were going to break through and score some. It happened in a big way.”

Some highlights from Wednesday:

* Starlin Castro notched his third straight multi-hit game with a career-high four hits. He’s batting .432 since July 10 with 13 runs, 11 doubles, two triples, a home run, and 10 RBIs. He’s hitting .362 at Wrigley Field.

“When you have talent and you’re smart, talent takes over,” Aramis Ramirez said of Castro. “He doesn’t make many mistakes and he has all the talent in the world. He can run, he can hit, he can play defense. When you’re smart and put all those things together, you’re going to be successful.”

* Tyler Colvin hit his 17th homer, and he now leads all Major League rookies. He’s tied with Mel Hall for third most by a left-handed hitting Cubs rookie. Hall of Famer Billy Williams hit 25 homers in 1961, the franchise record.

* Derrek Lee’s single in the seventh was the 1,800th hit of his career and his double in the eighth was No. 400.

* Ramirez’s pinch-hit homer was his first since June 14, 2002, against Cincinnati.

* Geovany Soto has driven in nine runs in his last seven games and 16 in his last 14. His five RBI on Wednesday were the most since he drove in a career-high seven on Aug. 26, 2008, against the Pirates.

* Blake DeWitt finally got a win with the Cubs. The second baseman also hit his first homer since joining the team Sunday from the Dodgers. His other homer came June 7 against St. Louis.

– Carrie Muskat