NEU » it may not be fully ready in time for that big September run.

MILWAUKEE -- Matt Garza knows all about the trade speculation. It certainly didnt distract him Thursday against the Brewers. The right-hander struck out 10 in seven solid innings and Dioner Navarro hit a three-run homer, sending the Chicago Cubs to a 7-2 victory over Milwaukee. Garza can become a free agent after the season and is expected to be one of the top pitchers available on the trade market as the July 31 non-waiver deadline approaches. "Somebody asked me today, Well, do you sit by your phone?" Garza said. "I said, No. No phone calls. No worries, guys. Im not too worried about it, just going to keep plugging away every five days." Garza (3-1) had his third consecutive strong outing. He allowed one run on eight hits and a walk while throwing 101 pitches. He spent the first seven weeks of the season on the disabled list with a left lat strain sustained in spring training. Garza was making his eighth start since returning on May 21, and has given up only two earned runs over 22 innings in his last three outings. "I like where Im at, and Im just going to try to keep improving," he said. The Cubs broke the game open with four runs in the third, capped by Navarros seventh homer. Milwaukee made a pair of errors and all the runs in the inning off Wily Peralta (5-9) were unearned. "Every opportunity I get Im going to try to do the best I can," said Navarro, who has 89 at-bats this year. "I obviously dont try to hit a homer every time I go to the plate, but I try to get good swings. I feel that I hit the ball pretty good the four times today. I was fortunate enough to get one." Peralta gave up seven runs, three earned, on eight hits and a walk while striking out two in five innings. He allowed the leadoff batter to reach base on singles in each of the first four innings, and three of those runners scored. "We played really poorly behind him," Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke said. "He didnt make pitches. He didnt pitch as well as he did last time but I was glad he came out and at least kept us in the ballgame and was able to give us five innings." Milwaukees Juan Francisco homered for the third consecutive game, his ninth this year, but committed a costly error in the third that led to three unearned runs. For the second consecutive game, the Cubs took advantage of Milwaukee errors and fielding miscues. Ryan Sweeney singled leading off the second inning, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Brian Bogusevic, starting in left field for the second straight game in place of Alfonso Soriano, doubled down the left-field line to score Sweeney and make it 1-0. One out later, Darwin Barneys liner went off Peraltas glove for a single that scored Bogusevic. Starlin Castro led off the third with a single and stole second. One out later, Sweeneys liner to left went off the glove of Caleb Gindl for a two-base error, making it 3-0. Anthony Rizzo struck out for the second out. Bogusevic then hit a hard grounder to third, and Aramis Ramirezs throw to first was in time but went off Franciscos glove for the second error of the inning. Navarro followed by hitting the first pitch from Peralta down the right-field line for a three-run homer to make it 6-0. "Nobody wants to make errors, but its going to happen," Peralta said. "I still have to execute, make pitches and pick up my team, but I wasnt able to do that." An error by second baseman Rickie Weeks in the fourth inning Wednesday night allowed two unearned runs to score in a 5-4 Cubs win over the Brewers. NOTES: Cubs prospect Jorge Soler has a stress fracture in his left leg and will be out four to six weeks. Soler was selected to the World Team for the All-Star Futures Game, but will be unable to play. He was batting .281 with eight home runs and 35 RBIs in 55 games for Class-A Daytona. ... The game began with the roof open, but when rain threatened it was closed in the fifth inning. ... Sean Halton made his major league debut with a pinch-hit single in the fifth for Milwaukee. He was recalled from Triple-A Nashville before the game. ... Weeks extended his hitting streak to 11 games. Brewers SS Jean Segura ran his streak to 10 games. Vans Shoes Clearance . The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling "puts an end to my dreams of being a top player," the 27-year-old Troicki said in a statement. "I worked my entire life for it, and it has been taken away from me in one afternoon by a doctor I didnt know," said Troicki, whose ranking peaked at No. Vans Shoes Sale . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and Al Horford had 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half. http://www.vansshoesclearancesale.com/vans-old-skool-sale/white.html . Robinson finished with 17 points, all but two in the second half, and Lawson had 14 after halftime and finished with a game-high 11 assists as the Nuggets handed Dallas its first home loss in eight games this season. J.J. Hickson led Denver with 22, and Kenneth Faried added 10 points and 10 rebounds. Vans Sk8-Hi Shoes For Sale . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup. Vans Shoes Wholesale . Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on the indoor hard-court at Belgrade Arena. The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1. Purdue coach Darrell Hazell understands the stakes.Hes changed both coordinators, simplified the offense to make it better suited for quarterback David Blough and has seen the athletic department offer creative ticket packages to attract bigger crowds to Ross-Ade Stadium. The missing element, of course, is winning games -- something Hazell expects to change quickly in 2016.Its important for this team to get off to a good start, he said Sunday. If we do, watch out. There is something to be said about finding ways to win.Victory celebrations have been sparse during Hazells three-year tenure.His .167 winning percentage is the worst of any Boilermakers football coach who lasted more than one season. Two of his six wins were against Indiana State, an FCS school. He is 3-29 against the FBS, 2-22 against the Big Ten and, after a third straight loss to archrival Indiana, some fans started campaigning for Hazells ouster.Last season, the Boilermakers (2-10, 1-7 Big Ten) finished last in their division -- the third straight time -- and the constant struggle on the field has created a steady decline in attendance, too.Hazell knows thats a legacy that must change, especially now that Mike Bobinski has been hired as Purdues next athletic director.So after overhauling his staff last winter, Hazell expects his players to take advantage of a potentially friendly September schedule -- three winnable home games -- to get the program righted.Its hugely important for us to be 3-0 going into our (Oct. 1) Big Ten opener at Maryland, and in the process, learn how to win games and finish games, running back Markell Jones said.Here are some other things to watch this season:QUATERBACK CONTINUITYBlough returns as the incumbent quarterback after starting the final eight games last season. Quarterback continuity has not been a trademark of Hazells teams in WWest Lafayette, Indiana.dddddddddddd Each season, Hazell has plugged the incumbent starter into the lineup only to make a midseason change, turning the Cradle of Quarterbacks into the Carousel of Quarterbacks. Hazell likely cant afford to make another midseason switch.KEEPING UP WITH JONESJones burst onto the scene as a freshman last season and was expected to split carries with rising junior D.J. Knox this fall, giving the Boilermakers a strong one-two punch. Those plans changed when Knox tore the ACL in his left knee during the Boilermakers spring game. With Knox out for the entire season, Jones should thrive in his role as the feature back.ON THE DEFENSIVEMaybe Purdue didnt have the Big Tens worst defense last season but it wasnt great. New coordinator Ross Els has brought in a new philosophy in hopes of fixing a unit that allowed 36.5 points, 214.9 yards rushing and 458.3 total yards per game. It wont be easy, and it may not be fully ready in time for that big September run.KEY GAMESHazell is correct: A fast start is important before Big Ten play begins. With that in mind, these games are key for the Boilermakers confidence: Sept. 3, Eastern Kentucky, Sept. 10, Cincinnati; Sept. 24, Nevada. And of course, the big one every year for Purdue is Indiana, which this year is Nov. 26.SEASON OPENERAs Hazell emphasizes the need to start fast and build confidence, Eastern Kentucky could throw a wrench into that plan. Senior quarterback Bennie Coney led the Colonels to a playoff appearance and five games with at least 41 points last season. And now he must fend off Maty Mauk, a transfer from Missouri. Either way, it will be a prime test for Els new defense.PREDICTIONThe tough times continue for Purdue: 3-9. ' ' '