Christian Yelich hit a three-run homer and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the major league-leading Chicago Cubs 4-3 on Friday night.
Yelich hit his fifth homer of the season off Alec Mills to right-center field, erasing Chicago's 3-1 lead in the sixth inning.
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Christian Yelich hit a three-run homer and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the major league-leading Chicago Cubs 4-3 on Friday night.
Mills (2-1) had been slated to start on Saturday but was bumped up when Friday's scheduled starter Tyler Chatwood was scratched with mid-back tightness. Mills hadn't pitched since Aug. 3.
Milwaukee ended a two-game losing streak and won for the third time in eight tries.
Woodruff labored and left in the fifth when Chicago sent nine to the plate and took a 3-1 lead. Kipnis and Rizzo drove in runs with singles, and Happ walked with the bases loaded.
TRAINER’S ROOM
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The Milwaukee Brewers celebrates after beating the Chicago Cubs 4-3 in a baseball game Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in Chicago. (AP PhotoJeff Haynes)
Freddy Peralta (1-1), Milwaukee’s first reliever, pitched two scoreless innings and struck out five.
Milwaukee Brewers' Christian Yelich (22) celebrates with teammates Keston Hiura (18) and Eric Sogard (7) after hitting a three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in Chicago. (AP PhotoJeff Haynes)
Mills (2-1) had been slated to start on Saturday but was bumped up when Friday's scheduled starter Tyler Chatwood was scratched with mid-back tightness. Mills hadn't pitched since Aug. 3.
The Cubs loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth before Brewers closer Josh Hader came in and walked Steven Souza Jr. and hit David Bote with a pitch. Hader struck out pinch-hitter Josh Phegley to end the inning, then worked around a two-out walk to Anthony Rizzo in the ninth to earn his fourth save.
Rizzo, Jason Kipnis and Ian Happ had RBIs for Cubs, who lost for just the second time in 11 games. Chicago dipped to 13-4 as Cubs hitters struck out 15 times against four pitchers.
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Alec Mills delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in Chicago. (AP PhotoJeff Haynes)
Milwaukee ended a two-game losing streak and won for the third time in eight tries.
After working quickly to retire the first 12 Brewers hitters, Mills allowed four runs on five hits in six innings. He struck out seven and walked one.
Milwaukee starter Brandon Woodruff mostly matched Mills early, not allowing a baserunner until Rizzo reached on an error with one out in the fourth.
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in Chicago. (AP PhotoJeff Haynes)
Woodruff labored and left in the fifth when Chicago sent nine to the plate and took a 3-1 lead. Kipnis and Rizzo drove in runs with singles, and Happ walked with the bases loaded.
LO-MO GOES
1B/OF Logan Morrison, designated for assignment by the Brewers on Monday, cleared waivers and declined to report to the team’s alternate site in Appleton, Wisconsin. The 32-year-old Morrison, who has struggled since hitting 38 homers with Tampa Bay in 2017, is now a free agent.
Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Ben Gamel (16) loses the ball off the bat of Chicago Cubs' Kyle Schwarber (12) during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in Chicago. (AP PhotoJeff Haynes)
TRAINER’S ROOM
Brewers: Manager Craig Counsel hopes to get 1B/OF Ryan Braun back into the lineup Saturday. Braun was available off the bench Friday, but his throwing has been hampered by an infected right index finger.
Cubs: IF/OF Kris Bryant was held out the lineup for a second day with a sore left wrist and ring finger but was available off the bench. Bryant was injured trying to make a diving catch in Cleveland on Wednesday, but manager David Ross said it’s not serious. ... LHP José Quintana (left thumb surgery) is scheduled to pitch a four-inning simulated game on Sunday at the team’s alternate site in South Bend, Indiana.
Chicago Cubs shortstop Nico Hoerner loses control of the ball on a base hit single off the bat of Milwaukee Brewers' Brock Holt during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in Chicago. (AP PhotoJeff Haynes)
UP NEXT
Brewers RHP Adrian Houser (1-1, 2.65) takes the mound Saturday in a game that’s been moved to 2:20 p.m. from 7:15 p.m. because storms are forecast. The Cubs had not yet named a starter. Houser pitched seven shutout innings to beat the Cubs in Milwaukee on Aug. 5.
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Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Josh Hader delivers during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in Chicago. (AP PhotoJeff Haynes)
The Milwaukee Brewers celebrates after beating the Chicago Cubs 4-3 in a baseball game Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in Chicago. (AP PhotoJeff Haynes)