CHICAGO (AP) — Christian Yelich capped Milwaukee's four-run sixth inning with a tiebreaking two-run homer, helping the Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs 9-4 on Tuesday night.
Milwaukee used a 13-hit attack to restore its eight-game lead in the NL Central over Chicago, bouncing back nicely after losing 17-3 to the Cubs in the opener of the four-game series. The top three hitters in the Brewers' lineup — Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang and William Contreras — went 6 for 14 and scored four times.
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Milwaukee Brewers' Joey Ortiz, right, celebrates his two-run home run with teammate Christian Yelich, left, during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
Chicago Cubs' Tyrone Taylor watches his two-run RBI double hit during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
Chicago Cubs' Daniel Palencia looks on after allowing a run on a balk during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
Milwaukee Brewers' Christian Yelich watches his two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
Milwaukee Brewers' Christian Yelich watches his two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
A day after hitting a franchise-record nine homers, Chicago was held to three singles and three doubles on a muggy night at Wrigley Field. Tyrone Taylor drove in two runs, and BJ Murray Jr. singled in the sixth for his first hit in his major league debut.
Milwaukee went ahead to stay in the sixth. Turang scored on a balk by Daniel Palencia, and Andrew Vaughn's RBI double tied it at 3. Yelich then drove an 0-2 slider from Palencia (2-2) to right-center for his 10th homer.
Yelich also walked and scored on Joey Ortiz's eighth homer in the eighth, a two-run shot to center field off Tyler Ferguson that lifted the Brewers to a 9-4 lead.
Antonio Senzatela (10-4) pitched an inning for his first win since he was acquired in a deadline trade with Colorado.
Chicago jumped in front on Taylor's two-run double in the fourth. Vaughn then made a great stop on Nico Hoerner's grounder to first, but pitcher Robert Gasser mishandled the toss to first and Taylor scampered home for a 3-0 lead.
Taylor, acquired in an Aug. 3 trade with the New York Mets, is batting .577 (15 for 26) with six RBIs in his last eight games.
The Brewers scored their first run on Cooper Pratt's single in the fifth. They had runners on first and second when Chourio struck out swinging against Matthew Boyd, ending the inning.
Jacob Misiorowski (14-5, 1.73 ERA) starts for Milwaukee on Wednesday night, and left-hander David Peterson (7-7, 5.11 ERA) pitches for Chicago.
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Milwaukee Brewers' Joey Ortiz, right, celebrates his two-run home run with teammate Christian Yelich, left, during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
Chicago Cubs' Tyrone Taylor watches his two-run RBI double hit during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
Chicago Cubs' Daniel Palencia looks on after allowing a run on a balk during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
Milwaukee Brewers' Christian Yelich watches his two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
Milwaukee Brewers' Christian Yelich watches his two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
U.S. Sen. Ed Markey secured the Democratic nomination in Massachusetts’ Senate primary Tuesday, once again fending off a push for generational change as he seeks a third term.
Markey, 80, defeated U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, 47, who had attempted to argue that it was time to do away with the “status quo” in his pursuit to oust the octogenarian.
Yet Markey successfully pointed to Moulton’s more moderate positions to argue that it was Moulton — not the older incumbent — who was out of touch with the state’s voters. Perhaps no other issue defined the race more than transgender rights, and Markey repeatedly hit Moulton for previously saying he would not want his daughters to play against transgender athletes.
“Massachusetts needs a senator who stands up and fights back, a senator who never forgets who they are fighting for,” Markey said during his victory speech. “That has been the mission of my life, and it always will be.”
In heavily Democratic Massachusetts, the primary is considered the most critical election hurdle, and the winner is expected to prevail in the general election in November.
Markey has been a fixture in Massachusetts politics since the 1970s, prompting Moulton to make his “status quo” arguments on the campaign trail and to question Markey’s accomplishments during his lengthy time in office.
“Generational change isn’t about compromising, to do the small things better,” Markey said Tuesday. “It’s about fighting to do the big things best.”
In a concession speech, Moulton said he would now support Markey.
“Challenging the establishment and calling for a new generation of leadership isn’t easy. But it is necessary,” Moulton told supporters. “We started conversations that needed to happen.”
“We didn’t achieve our goal tonight, but I am confident others will be inspired to buck the system when they’re told to wait their turn,” he added.
The Senate race was not the only generational challenge for Democrats on the ballot. A similar dynamic played out in the 8th Congressional District, where Patrick Roath hoped to oust longtime incumbent Rep. Stephen Lynch. Meanwhile, in the 1st Congressional District of western Massachusetts, Rep. Richard Neal successfully advanced to the general election against progressive public school teacher Jeromie Whalen.
During the campaign Markey repeatedly pointed out that Moulton, in 2024, raised eyebrows among some in the party for saying he did not want his daughters playing sports against transgender girls.
Critics said he was echoing President Donald Trump’s talking points against allowing transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports.
Moulton later apologized for his remarks, saying it was not his intention to hurt the transgender community and stressing his support for other transgender rights bills.
“If you’re in the trans community or you’re a trans kid feeling the weight of the Trump administration and the Supreme Court, you matter,” Moulton said during an August debate. “You’re valued, and I will always have your back.”
Moulton, who enlisted in the Marines after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and served four tours of duty in Iraq, was first elected to Massachusetts’ 6th Congressional District in 2014. He launched a 2020 presidential campaign but dropped it after a few months.
Markey was elected to the Senate in 2013. Before that he represented Massachusetts’ 7th Congressional District from 1976 to 2013.
Markey notably fended off a challenge in 2020 from Rep. Joe Kennedy III, a younger rival from one of the nation's most famous political families. Markey did so by aligning himself with the liberal wing of the Democratic Party.
Antoine Hilaire, a 76-year-old Democrat who voted for Markey in Brockton on Tuesday, said being older can be a positive because it offers people experience and wisdom.
“If the older one is doing the better job, I don’t know,” he said. “He’s doing a good job. It’s not a big, big, big problem.”
Lynch, 71, has held the 8th District seat in south Boston since 2001. He faced Roath, a 39-year-old lawyer who contended that it is time to end “wait-your-turn” politics. Lynch stressed the value of experience inside Congress.
Lynch has fended off other youth challenges in the past, but Roath’s campaign hoped for a boost of excitement after longtime Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. John Larson was defeated by former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin in August in neighboring Connecticut. Like Roath, Bronin called for the need for generational change while running against an establishment politician.
In the 1st District Democratic primary in western Massachusetts, Neal, 77, defeated Whalen, 39.
Neal, known as the dean of the New England House delegation, was first elected in 1988. Whalen ran to the left of Neal, calling for Medicare for All and questioning whether Neal has done enough to oppose Trump’s agenda.
Whalen was endorsed by Our Revolution, a progressive organization founded by Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
Associated Press reporter Leah Willingham in Brockton contributed.
The story has been updated to correct Larson’s first name to John, not Jim.
U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., reacts with his wife Susan Blumenthal after winning the Democratic nomination during a primary election night event Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., speaks alongside his wife Susan Blumenthal after winning the Democratic nomination during a primary election night event Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Attendees cheer after U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., won the Democratic nomination during a primary election night event Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., reacts alongside his wife Susan Blumenthal after winning the Democratic nomination during a primary election night event Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., along with his wife, Susan Blumenthal gestures after winning the Democratic nomination during a primary election night event Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Rep. Seth Moulton speaks after losing the Democratic primary during a primary election night event Tuesday Sept. 1, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Reba Saldanha)
Supporters of U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., react during a primary election night event Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026 in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
A supporter reacts to first results after polls closed during a primary election night event for U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026 in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton campaigns outside Cary Hall, the town hall and polling place in Lexington, Mass., Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026. (Lauren Feeney/Lexington Observer via AP)
U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton campaigns outside Cary Hall, the town hall and polling place in Lexington, Mass., Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026. (Lauren Feeney/Lexington Observer via AP)
FILE - Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., speaks during a news conference on Feb. 18, 2026, in New Albany, Ohio. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel, File)
Patrick Roath, a Democrat candidate challenging U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) in the 8th Congressional District, talks with residents at a retirement community, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in Westwood, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
In this combination photo, Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., speaks during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, March 27, 2025, left, and Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., speaks during a candidate forum, Aug. 3, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo)
U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass. who is campaigning to unseat Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., speaks to prospective voters Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Wakefield, Mass. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)
Sen. Ed Markey speaks during a Get Out the Vote event supporting Markey, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026 in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
