Seiya Suzuki launched a go-ahead three-run home run in the fifth inning on Tuesday night to propel the Chicago Cubs to a 5-3 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers.
Ben Brown (4-5) went five innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits, while striking out five and walking two to earn his first win since May 2 – also against the Brewers.
Closer Daniel Palencia allowed Jackson Chourio’s two-out double in the ninth but got William Contreras to fly out to secure his seventh save of the year and the Cubs’ third straight win.
Pete Crow-Armstrong homered and Kyle Tucker tallied three hits as Chicago improved to 3-1 against its National League Central rivals this year.
Chad Patrick (3-7) surrendered four earned runs on six hits in defeat, also striking out five and walking a pair. Isaac Collins went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer for the Brewers, who dropped their second game in three tries.
After Rhys Hoskins worked a leadoff walk in the top of the second, Collins launched his third home run of the season to give Milwaukee a 2-0 edge off Brown.
Chicago cut its deficit in half in the bottom of the second as Nico Hoerner’s two-out single was followed by Matt Shaw’s RBI double to center.
Ian Happ walked and Tucker doubled in the bottom of the fifth before Suzuki hit his 18th homer of the year – a 413-foot shot to left – to give Chicago a 4-2 advantage.
Genesis Cabrera relieved Brown in the sixth, allowing Brice Turang’s leadoff single and Joey Ortiz’s run-scoring base hit to pull Milwaukee within a run.
Nick Mears threw a scoreless bottom of the sixth in relief of Patrick.
The Brewers threatened in the seventh against Brad Keller. Contreras walked and reached third with two outs before Hoskins struck out to end the frame.
Crow-Armstrong smashed a 452-foot solo homer in the bottom of the eighth off Rob Zastryzny to give the Cubs a 5-3 edge.
–Field Level Media
