Willy Adames keys late rally as Brewers stop Cubs

Willy Adames headlined a three-run rally with a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the host Chicago Cubs 3-1 on Friday afternoon in the opener of a three-game series.

The teams were caught up in a pitchers' duel until Christopher Morel clubbed a solo shot with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to put Chicago up 1-0.

Milwaukee went down quietly in the seventh, but pinch hitter Jackson Chourio then helped give the Brewers life in the eighth.

Chourio greeted reliever Adbert Alzolay with a one-out single, stole second and scored on William Contreras' base hit to knot things at 1. Contreras also ended up stealing second, allowing him to come home on Adames' grounder to center.

Jake Bauers provided some insurance with a run-scoring single to cap the rally.

Alzolay (1-4) surrendered three runs on four hits in one-third of an inning to take the loss.

Elvis Peguero (4-0) was the beneficiary of the outburst and came away with the win. Trevor Megill logged a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save of 2024.

Milwaukee's comeback spoiled a stellar outing from Cubs starter Hayden Wesneski, who lowered his ERA to 0.54 by scattering three hits across 6 1/3 scoreless innings. Wesneski walked two and matched his career high with eight strikeouts.

Brewers starter Joe Ross gave up just one run on six hits in six innings. He fanned four without issuing a walk.

Brice Turang went 2-for-4 for Milwaukee, which pushed its winning streak to three games.

Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ and Michael Busch each had two hits as Chicago's offensive struggles continued. The Cubs have averaged just 2.4 runs over their past seven games.

It didn't look like the teams were headed for a pitchers' duel, as both quickly applied pressure on the basepaths.

Milwaukee put runners on first and second in the second and fourth, but it left them stranded in both innings.

Then, in the home half of the fourth, Busch and Morel advanced to second and third, respectively, on Dansby Swanson's deep flyout to center. However, Matt Mervis struck out to end the frame.