Michael Busch hit a bases-clearing double and Daniel Palencia stranded the bases loaded in the ninth inning as the Chicago Cubs beat the visiting Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 on Wednesday.
Matt Shaw added a solo homer and Busch had two of four total hits for Chicago, which has won five of its last six games.
The MLB-leading Brewers have lost three straight for the first time since May 7-10. Brice Turang had three hits.
With the Cubs leading 3-2, Shaw began the eighth inning by depositing Jared Koenig’s 1-2 offering into the left field seats for his 11th homer of the season.
The insurance run proved to be the difference in the ninth inning after Turang scored from second base on Danny Jansen’s two-out single against Palencia.
After pinch-runner Brandon Lockridge stole second base, Palencia walked Sal Frelick and Isaac Collins to load the bases before retiring William Contreras on a liner to second baseman Nico Hoerner for his 18th save.
Milwaukee took a 1-0 lead in the second inning after Colin Rea (10-5) walked the bases loaded and a run scored on Blake Perkins’ groundout.
The Cubs pulled ahead with three runs in the third inning against Jacob Misiorowski (4-2), who walked the first three batters before giving up Busch’s bases-clearing double.
Shaw drew an 11-pitch walk ahead of Busch’s liner to left-center field and also made a stellar defensive play on Anthony Seigler’s bunt in the sixth inning.
Misiorowski allowed three runs on one hit with three walks and five strikeouts over four innings.
The Brewers put two runners on with one out in the fifth, but Rea escaped the jam when Contreras grounded into a double play.
Rea was replaced with a runner at second with two outs in the sixth inning by Caleb Thielbar, who was greeted by Turang’s run-scoring single.
Rea gave up two runs on three hits over 5 2/3 innings. He walked five and struck out three.
–Field Level Media
