The Milwaukee Brewers blanked the Chicago Cubs 7-0 in the opener of a scheduled doubleheader at Wrigley Field on Monday, backed by a strong outing from right-hander Freddy Peralta. Chicago mustered only two hits after starter Cade Horton departed with a blister, and the loss dropped the Cubs nine games behind Milwaukee in the National League Central. Lingering thunderstorms forced officials to postpone the nightcap, which will now be played Tuesday, Aug. 19, creating another split doubleheader at 1:20 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. local time. The delay came less than an hour before the scheduled first pitch as severe-weather warnings moved into the Chicago area. Milwaukee, winners of 15 of its last 16 contests, plans to start right-hander Chad Patrick in Tuesday’s early game and undefeated right-hander Brandon Woodruff in the evening matchup. Chicago will counter with left-hander Matthew Boyd and recently activated right-hander Jameson Taillon, respectively. The Cubs also recalled left-hander Luke Little and optioned right-hander Javier Assad to bolster a pitching staff stretched by the five-game series.