Brewers continue to put heat on Cubs

Eric Thames hit his team-high 30th homer, Chase Anderson pitched effectively on three days’ rest and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-2 on Wednesday night.

Centre fielder Brett Phillips added two hits and three RBIs, and also threw out a runner at the plate for the Brewers. They have won five of their last six games as they try to keep pace with the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs.

Milwaukee got to Tyler Glasnow (27) for five runs, four hits and six walks over 2 2/3 innings in the right-hander’s first start since returning from the minors Sunday.

The Brewers also learned Wednesday that they will host a threegame series this weekend against the Marlins instead of travelling to Miami as originally scheduled, as South Florida recovers from Hurricane Irma.

Milwaukee will be the visiting team in its own stadium, Miller Park.

From the perspective of the pennant race, it’s a big opportunity for the Brewers as they try to make the playoffs for the first time since 2011.

Anderson (10-3) gave the battered pitching staff a lift in his first career start on three days’ rest. The righty allowed Andrew McCutchen’s firstinning solo shot — the veteran outfielder’s 200th career homer — before exiting with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth.

Elias Diaz snapped an 0-for-15 slump with a run-scoring infield single that chased Anderson. Oliver Drake got Gregory Polanco and Max Moroff to fly out, stranding three runners.

Anderson started in place of Jimmy Nelson, out for the rest of the season with a right shoulder injury.

At Chicago, Javier Baez homered and had four hits, Albert Almora Jr. also went deep and drove in six runs, and the Chicago Cubs routed the New York Mets 17-5.

The Cubs matched a season high for runs after pouring on 12 over their final three at-bats. They have outscored the Mets 25-8 the past two games.