Christian Yelich had a two-run homer and the Milwaukee Brewers overcame a shaky first inning from All-Star rookie Jacob Misiorowski to rally for an 8-4 victory over the visiting Chicago Cubs on Monday in the opener of the three-game series between NL Central leaders.
The Brewers, who moved into first place one game ahead of the Cubs, erased a 3-0 first-inning deficit with four runs in the third off Matthew Boyd (11-4).
Andrew Vaughn had a solo homer, his ninth, in the fifth and Sal Frelick had a solo shot, his eighth, an inning later to make it 6-3.
The Cubs pulled within 6-4 in the seventh on Kyle Tucker’s RBI single. Yelich followed a leadoff single by William Contreras in the bottom half with his 20th homer to put the Brewers up 8-4.
Misiorowski finished his 80-pitch outing with three scoreless innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits, striking out seven and walking two. Nick Mears (2-3), one of seven relievers used by the Brewers, got the win with one scoreless inning. Trevor Megill came on with two aboard in the ninth and struck out Seiya Suzuki for his 24th save in 27 chances.
In the third, Frelick singled to open and took second on Contreras’ one-out single. Yelich followed with an RBI double to right and Vaughn walked to load the bases. Isaac Collins tied it with a two-run single to right and Brice Turang followed with a go-ahead sacrifice fly.
The Cubs took a 3-0 lead in the first with the aid of a wild pitch and throwing error in a 40-pitch inning against Misiorowski, named to the All-Star team after just five big league starts.
Chicago loaded the bases with none out when Michael Busch singled, Kyle Tucker walked and Suzuki lined an infield single that caromed off Misiorowski.
Busch scored when Pete Crow-Armstrong struck out on a wild pitch. Carson Kelly struck out and Ian Happ dribbled a single in front of the mound, but Misiorowski threw wildly past first, allowing Suzuki to score.
Brewers overcome rough first inning to take down rival Cubs
