Manny Pina hit a pinch-hit, two-run home run, and the Milwaukee Brewers held on for a 4-3 win over the host Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon.
After watching the game from the dugout for two-plus hours, Pina stepped to the plate in the seventh inning to deliver the blast, which was his second of the season. Milwaukee earned its fourth victory in the past five games and evened the series against Chicago at one win apiece.
Nico Hoerner had a two-run double for the Cubs, and Jason Heyward clubbed a solo home run. Chicago's four-game winning streak came to an end.
Brewers left-hander Brent Suter (2-1) pitched two scoreless innings to earn the win in relief. Suter replaced starter Freddy Peralta, who gave up two runs on five hits in four innings.
Cubs left-hander Andrew Chafin (0-1) gave up two runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning. He was one of four relievers to follow right-hander Adbert Alzolay, who allowed two runs on two hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Josh Hader pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the Brewers to notch his fourth save.
Corey Ray made his big-league debut for the Brewers and finished 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored. The 26-year-old, who was Milwaukee's first-round pick (No. 5 overall) in 2016, grew up in Chicago and starred at Simeon Career Academy on the city's South Side.
The Cubs opened the scoring in the second. Hoerner ripped a ground-ball double past third base and down the left-field line to score two.
It was the second run-scoring hit in as many days for Hoerner, who was promoted from the Cubs' alternate site Thursday after Joc Pederson (wrist) was placed on the 10-day injured list.
The Brewers pulled even at 2 in the fifth. Omar Narvaez drew a two-out walk with the bases loaded, scoring Keston Hiura, and Tyrone Taylor was hit by a pitch to bring in Ray.
The game remained tied until the seventh, when Pina's homer gave Milwaukee a 4-2 lead.
Heyward brought the Cubs within 4-3 with his second homer of the season in the eighth.
Alzolay was promoted from the Cubs' alternate site in South Bend, Ind., to make the start. Chicago optioned left-handed reliever Kyle Ryan to the alternate site in a corresponding move.
--Field Level Media
Milwaukee | Chi. Cubs | |
Freddy Peralta | Player | Adbert Alzolay |
No Decision | W/L | No Decision |
4.0 | IP | 4.2 |
7 | Strikeouts | 7 |
5 | Hits | 2 |
4.50 | ERA | 3.86 |
Milwaukee | Chi. Cubs | |
Keston Hiura | Player | Eric Sogard |
3 | Hits | 3 |
0 | RBI | 0 |
0 | HR | 0 |
4 | TB | 3 |
.750 | Avg | .750 |