Brice Turang hits a 2-run homer as Brewers widen NL Central lead over Cubs with 4-1 win

CHICAGO (AP) — Brice Turang hit a two-run homer, Isaac Collins drove in two insurance runs and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs 4-1 on Thursday.

Turang and Sal Frelick each had two hits as the Brewers opened a seven-game lead over Chicago in the NL Central.

Milwaukee took the finale in a five-game series at Wrigley Field after the Cubs won three straight. The Brewers won Monday's opener 7-0.

Milwaukee starter Quinn Priester allowed one run on three hits in 4 1/3 innings, but fell short of winning his 11th straight decision. The right-hander issued a season-high five walks while striking out four and was relieved by Nick Mears (5-3) in the fifth.

Five Brewers relievers limited Chicago to two hits. Trevor Megill worked around a single in the ninth for his 30th save.

Cubs starter Shota Imanaga (8-6) allowed two runs on three hits in seven innings, striking out five.

Pete Crow-Armstrong drove in the Cubs lone run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Chicago failed to cash in on eight walks and left 11 men on base.

Slumping Cubs All-Star slugger Kyle Tucker returned to the lineup after sitting out three games and went 0-for-4 with a walk.

Turang put the Brewers ahead in the second by sending Imanaga's 2-0 fastball to the right-field bleachers against a steady wind.

Crow-Armstrong cut it to 2-1 in the fifth. Milwaukee put it away in the eighth when Collins singled in two runs of reliever Ryan Brasier.

Priester issued his fifth walk, to Seiya Suzuki, with one out in the fifth to load the bases. Mears relieved and Crow-Armstrong delivered his sac fly. But Ian Happ flied out to end the inning and Milwaukee maintained a 2-1 lead.

Turang is batting .377 (26-69) in August with eight homers and 20 RBIs.

Brewers: LHP José Quintana (10-4, 3.32 ERA) starts against the Giants on Friday in Milwaukee.

Cubs: Play the Angels in Anaheim Friday night.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) throws against the Milwaukee Brewers during the third inning of a baseball game Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner, top, catches Milwaukee Brewers' Isaac Collins, bottom, on a steal-attempt during the eighth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Abner Uribe, left, reacts after first baseman Andrew Vaughn (28) forced out Chicago Cubs' Owen Caissie to end the eighth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Abner Uribe throws against the Chicago Cubs during the eighth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Milwaukee Brewers' Brice Turang (2), right, celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama returned from a first-quarter injury scare to score 22 points and grab 10 rebounds and lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 119-101 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night.

Stephon Castle added 19 points and 10 assists and Julian Champagnie had 13 points and 11 rebounds for San Antonio. The Spurs led by 39 points early in the fourth quarter.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 21 points as Milwaukee suffered its third straight loss.

It was the Bucks' second straight lopsided loss after being booed at home during a 139-106 setback to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.

Wembanyama startled the sellout crowd at the Frost Bank Center and it had nothing to do with his freshly shaved scalp.

He returned to the court after making knee-to-knee contact with Antetokounmpo's left leg under the Bucks basket with 9:18 remaining in the first quarter. Wembanyama dropped to the court in pain before rising and hobbling unassisted in a half sprint toward the locker room.

The 7-foot-4 center from France suffered a hyperextended knee on Dec. 31 in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks in a similar play. He returned to watch from the bench on New Year's Eve but missed the next two games.

Wembanyama returned to the bench at the close of the first quarter Thursday, but this time he went back on the court to start the second quarter.

Wembanyama had 11 points, six rebounds and a blocked shot while playing 12 minutes, 27 seconds in the second quarter.

San Antonio outscored Milwaukee 35-26 during the second quarter in taking a 66-53 lead at the half. The lead expanded to 37 points in the third quarter as both teams sat their starters to open the fourth.

Kyle Kuzma had 18 points and Bobby Portis added 13 points for the Bucks.

Bucks: At Atlanta on Monday night.

Spurs: Host Minnesota on Saturday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) scores past San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) and forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) and guard Ryan Rollins, second from right, battle San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet, left, and guard De'aaron Fox, right, for a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) is blocked as he drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) scores over Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, left, drives against Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)