CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Shawn Estes has a rare winning streak and the Chicago Cubs have a rare victory over Glendon Rusch .

Estes pitched seven strong innings and Joe Borowski worked in and out of a jam in the ninth as the Cubs salvaged the finale of a three-game series with a 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers .

The Cubs avoided their first three-game losing streak of the season behind Estes, who has recorded back-to-wins for the first time since winning five straight decisions from May 8-June 21, 2001 while with the San Francisco Giants .

Estes (3-3) allowed three hits, including an RBI double to Brady Clark in the fourth, and struck out seven while overcoming five walks.

"There were some at-bats where I was inconsistent with my fastball," Estes said. "For the most part, I had my curveball working and for the most part, I'm much more effective when I throw my curveball for strikes."

Antonio Alfonseca pitched the eighth and Borowski struck out pinch hitter John Vander Wal and Royce Clayton with runners at first and third to end the game and earn his sixth save.

"It was a little less comfort than I like," Borowski admitted. "I knew when it got to first and third I needed a pop-up or a strikeout, so I did bear down."

Rusch (1-6) lost to the Cubs for just the second time in nine career decisions. He went the distance, allowing two runs and 10 hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

"I hope I take something positive from this one," Rusch said. "I threw the ball pretty wall and we played a good game. I located the wall and tried to be more aggressive. But you can't re-invent the wheel. You have to stick to your game plan and execute."

Rusch, who lost his fifth straight decision, allowed a bases-loaded walk to Mark Bellhorn in the first and an RBI single to Damian Miller in the fourth.

Milwaukee failed to record its first series sweep since September.

"It was a good game today, but if you get the first two, you really want the third one, and we had opportunities to tie it," Brewers manager Ned Yost said.

Sammy Sosa , Eric Karros and Moises Alou had consecutive two-out singles in the first before Rusch walked Bellhorn.

The Brewers tied it in the fourth on Clark's run-scoring double that put runners at second and third. Estes walked Wes Helms to load the bases but got Keith Osik to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Chicago went ahead for good in its half of the fourth. Bellhorn walked again but was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a double by Ramon Martinez . Miller was able to bring Martinez home with a single to center.

Borowski made things interesting in the ninth by allowing singles to Clark and Helms. He was able to get a questionable called third strike on Vander Wal before Clayton struck out to complete the five-hitter.