Gary Sánchez hits tiebreaking 2-run homer in 8th inning as Brewers beat Cubs 6-4 originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Gary Sánchez hit a tiebreaking two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs 6-4 on Thursday.
The NL Central-leading Brewers won three of four games against Chicago in a series that marked the return of Cubs manager Craig Counsell to American Family Field. Counsell, the winningest manager in Brewers history, was showered with boos every time he left the dugout this week.
After the Cubs twice came from behind with tying home runs off Bryan Hudson (4-0), Sánchez delivered the biggest shot of all to put Milwaukee back in front for good. His 130-yard drive over the midfield wall came on a 3-2 sweeper from Tyson Miller.
The Brewers previously missed a golden opportunity to score in the eighth. After Luke Little (1-1) walked Christian Yelich and Willy Adames to start the inning, pinch-hitter Owen Miller grounded into a double play on a 3-2 pitch.
Tyson Miller came out of the bullpen and gave up Sánchez’s towering homer.
This wasn’t the first time this season that Sánchez won a game with an eighth-inning explosion. He had a two-run, pinch-hit homer off Aroldis Chapman in the eighth inning of a 7–5 win at Pittsburgh on April 25.
The Cubs tried to rally in the ninth when Dansby Swanson hit a one-out single, followed by Seiya Suzuki’s fly to right. Elvis Peguero earned his first save in two chances when Patrick Wisdom grounded out on a nice play by third baseman Joey Ortiz.
Cody Bellinger, Suzuki and Christopher Morel homered for the Cubs.
After Suzuki’s two-run, pinch-hit homer off Hudson tied the game in the top of the seventh, the Brewers scored a go-ahead run in the bottom half of the inning.
Blake Perkins reached on an infield single with two outs, stole second base and advanced to third base on a wild pitch and scored on Brice Turang’s infield hit.
Chicago tied the game again when Morel sent a 3-1 pitch from Hudson over the right-center wall for his team-leading 10th homer of the season.
Before Thursday, the only homer Hudson had allowed all season was an inside-the-park shot to Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz on April 8. Hudson’s performance Thursday increased his ERA from 0.59 to 1.13.
TRAINER’S ROOM
The Cubs recalled outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong for the game and optioned infielder Luis Vázquez to Triple-A Iowa. The Brewers recalled right-hander Kevin Herget from Triple-A Nashville and designated right-hander Mitch White for assignment.
NEXT ONE
Cubs: Return home for a three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds. The scheduled starting pitchers for Friday’s series opener are right-hander Javier Assad (4-1, 2.17 ERA) for the Cubs and right-hander Graham Ashcraft (4-3, 4.67) for the Reds.
Brewers: Begin a three-game home series with the Chicago White Sox. The starting pitchers on Friday are right-hander Tobias Myers (1-2, 4.43) for the Brewers and right-hander Erick Fedde (4-1, 2.80) for the White Sox.
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