CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Wins are a rare occurrence for the Milwaukee Brewers . But they've come slightly more frequently against the Chicago Cubs .

Richie Sexson and Wes Helms hit two-run homers and Ben Sheets pitched into the eighth inning to lead the Brewers to a 5-3 victory over the Cubs.

Last year, on their way to a franchise-record 106 losses, Milwaukee took 10 of 17 meetings with Chicago, including four of seven at Wrigley Field. Five of those victories came during the Cubs' nine-game losing streak in May.

The Brewers had a winning record against just one other team last season.

Asked to explain Milwaukee's success against Chicago, Sheets said, "It was the luck of the draw. I don't know. But the atmosphere here is different, so maybe we are more focused."

"Any win is big," Brewers manager Ned Yost added. "It doesn't matter who we are playing. But it's the Cubs, so it's huge. We're two hours away, so it's a big rivalry. But we haven't gotten a lot of wins, so any win is huge."

Sexson sent starter Matt Clement 's 2-2 pitch over the left-center field wall with two outs to cap a three-run third inning. Sexson, who hit six homers off Cubs' pitching last season, moved into a tie with Houston's Jeff Bagwell and Texas' Juan Gonzalez for the major league lead with 11.

"I do enjoy playing here," said Sexson, who has a .344 average at Wrigley Field. "It's one of the last old great ballparks still standing. It's got such great history. Guys like coming here to play."

In the sixth, Helms belted Clement's (2-4) first pitch into the right-center field bleachers to make it 5-1. It was his fifth home run of the season and fourth in seven games.

Staked to a four-run lead, Sheets (3-3) improved to 6-0 lifetime against Chicago. He allowed three runs and five hits in 7 2/3 innings with a walk and five strikeouts.

"He did a great job," Sexson said. "He worked both sides of the plate, kept them off-balance, and he didn't fall into a pattern."

Sheets served up a home run to rookie Hee Seop Choi with one out in the second but retired 19 of the next 21 batters before Eric Karros homered with two outs in the eighth.

"He's a heck of a pitcher," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said of Sheets. "I haven't been here to see him before. We hit some balls hard off him, but he threw the ball well."

Sheets issued a one-out walk to Mark Grudzielanek and was replaced by Luis Vizcaino , who allowed a hit but struck out Sammy Sosa on three pitches.

Sosa struck out three times and has just one hit in his last 13 at-bats.

Mike DeJean worked around a one-out walk in the ninth and notched his sixth save in seven chances, nailing down Milwaukee's third win in 13 games.

Clement got through the first 2 2/3 innings before Alex Sanchez singled, stole second and scored on Keith Ginter 's base hit. Sexson followed his second homer in as many games.

"I felt pretty good," Clement said. "He's hot right now, so maybe I shouldn't have given him the chance. It was a pitch I'd make again."

Clement overcame a double to John Vander Wal and a walk to Helms in the fourth, then retired the side in the fifth. But he gave up a single to Vander Wal and the homer to Helms in the sixth.

Clement allowed five runs and six hits in six innings. He struck out seven, walked three and dropped his third straight decision.