Rookie Luis Lara’s bases-loaded single in the 10th inning gave the Milwaukee Brewers a 4-3 comeback victory over the visiting Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.
Jackson Chourio, who finished 4-for-5, rescued the Brewers with a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth inning to tie it 3-3.
Brice Turang began the 10th as Milwaukee’s designated runner against Caleb Thielbar (3-3), who entered to open the inning. William Contreras was walked intentionally with one out and Sal Frelick dropped a bloop single into shallow left to load the bases.
Lara then lined the first pitch to left, lifting the Brewers to their second 4-3 comeback victory over the Cubs in as many days. DL Hall (3-0) got the final five outs for the win.
Milwaukee (90-56), bidding for its fourth consecutive National League Central title, moved nine games ahead of the second-place Cubs (81-65). The Brewers, who also own the best record in the majors, will look to sweep the three-game series on Wednesday.
The Cubs squandered an opportunity in the top of the 10th when runner Seiya Suzuki was thrown out trying to advance to third on a fly ball to center fielder Garrett Mitchell.
Pinch hitter Christian Yelich started the Brewers’ rally in the ninth with a two-out single. Chourio then lined an 0-1 pitch from Jacob Webb 394 feet to left for his career-best 22nd homer.
The Cubs went in front 3-1 in the top of the ninth. Carson Kelly’s pinch-hit double with the bases loaded drove in two against Milwaukee closer Trevor Megill.
Suzuki prevented the go-ahead run from scoring in the fifth with a throw from right field to cut down Chourio at home for the final out of the inning.
The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the first. Suzuki doubled off the wall in center with one out and scored on Michael Busch’s two-out single to right. Nico Hoerner then singled, but Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski came back from a 3-0 count to fan Ian Happ and strand runners on the corners.
The Brewers answered in the bottom of the first when Chourio hit a leadoff double and Turang followed with an RBI single to center.
Misiorowski, who was tagged for five runs in four innings during a no-decision against the Cubs on Sept. 2, allowed one run on four hits in 6 1/3 innings on Tuesday. He struck out nine and walked two in a 93-pitch outing.
Chicago starter David Peterson yielded one run on six hits in 4 1/3 innings. He fanned four and walked three.
