The Chicago Cubs earned a 5-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday evening at Wrigley Field, fueled by Pete Crow-Armstrong’s impressive showing at both the plate and in the outfield. This victory marked the Cubs’ highest run total since their recent 8-4 triumph over the Philadelphia Phillies and was their most productive home scoring since June 1 against the Cincinnati Reds.
Crow-Armstrong’s standout performance helped the Cubs build an early lead and maintain control, supporting the team’s position as they continue to widen their division lead. Alongside him, Seiya Suzuki’s powerful three–run homer and Kyle Tucker’s consistent hitting played pivotal roles in the game’s outcome.
Game Progress: Early Scoring and Defensive Plays Set the Tone
The Cubs began the night with runners on base, including Crow-Armstrong reaching via hit-by-pitch, although they failed to push runs across in the first inning. Milwaukee’s Ben Brown struggled with his control early, surrendering a two-run homer to Isaac Collins in the second inning, giving the Brewers an initial edge.
Chicago responded quickly with a run in the bottom half of the second. Nico Hoerner singled, and Matt Shaw followed by doubling him home to reduce the deficit. Despite allowing runners in the third and fourth innings, Brown, aided by strong fielding, managed to hold the Brewers scoreless during that stretch. Shaw made a notable defensive play on an attempted bunt, while Ian Happ executed a remarkable sliding catch, ensuring no additional damage.
Seiya Suzuki’s Game-Changing Third-Run Home Run in the Fifth
The Cubs reclaimed the lead in the fifth inning. Happ drew a walk to start the inning and came around to score after Tucker’s double put him on third base. Suzuki then smashed a ball deep into the bleachers, extending Chicago’s lead to 4-2. This blast was the most significant moment offensively, breaking a prolonged scoring drought for the Cubs.
Seiya Suzuki’s three-run homer in the fifth inning snapped a streak of 50 consecutive innings in which the Cubs had scored no more than two runs, going back to when they tallied three in the eighth inning at Philadelphia on June 10.
Those three had snapped a streak of 65 innings with 0-2 runs since they had tallied four in the fourth inning at Washington a week earlier.
So, the Cubs had one inning with more than two runs in a span of 126 innings, spanning 14 games.
—JohnW53, BCB Analyst
This marked the first time in a long span of games that the Cubs had an inning with more than two runs, making Suzuki’s homer especially significant to Chicago’s offensive momentum.
Relief Pitching Holds Off Brewers as Cubs Extend Lead
Ben Brown was replaced after five innings and 86 pitches, finishing with mixed results despite wildness with control. Relief pitchers kept Milwaukee contained through the middle innings, with Generesis Cabrera giving up a run in the sixth. However, a crucial strikeout and throw-out double play averted further scoring in that frame.
Brad Keller and Caleb Thielbar shut down the Brewers in the seventh and eighth innings respectively, preserving the Cubs’ advantage as the game approached its conclusion.
Pete Crow-Armstrong’s Defensive Brilliance and One-of-a-Kind Home Run in the Eighth
Crow-Armstrong continued to impress defensively, making a spectacular catch in center field during the eighth inning that left even the opposing pitcher stunned. His glove work demonstrated his exceptional range and athleticism, setting him apart as one of the league’s top center fielders.
At bat that same inning, Crow-Armstrong launched a towering home run off the right-field video board. The ball traveled an impressive 452 feet, registering as the longest home run hit by a Cubs player this season. This was Crow-Armstrong’s 19th home run of the year and fifth against a left-handed pitcher, highlighting his growing power and consistency.
JohnW53 shared additional insights about Crow-Armstrong’s rare game details:
This was the second of Pete Crow-Armstrong’s 208 career games in which he was hit by a pitch and drew a walk.
In the first, on Aug. 24 of last year at Miami, he also homered, with a man on base. He had a single in that game, too.
—JohnW53, BCB Analyst
Later, Daniel Palencia came on to close the game. After allowing a two-out double, he prompted a fly ball caught by Crow-Armstrong for the final out, solidifying the Cubs’ victory.
Postgame Insights: Friendly Rivalry and Team Progress
In postgame remarks, Crow-Armstrong discussed the friendly home-run competition between him and teammate Seiya Suzuki. Their closely matched RBI totals—58 for Crow-Armstrong and 61 for Suzuki—reflect their status as top MLB hitters this season. Both players are on pace to surpass or approach the Cubs’ historic RBI totals, aiming to top the team records set by Sammy Sosa in 2001. The last Cubs to exceed 100 RBIs were Javier Báez and Anthony Rizzo in 2018.
Craig Counsell, the Brewers manager, also shared his thoughts following the contest, acknowledging the strength of the Cubs’ performance.
Looking Ahead: Cubs Expand Division Lead and Set Sights on Series Win
This win pushes the Cubs to a season-best 17 games above .500, marking their largest division lead of the year at 6½ games ahead of the Brewers. The Cubs also hold a seven-game lead over the Cardinals and Reds, both of whom recorded wins on Tuesday.
Weather permitting, Chicago aims to clinch the series victory on Wednesday evening at Wrigley Field. Jameson Taillon will make the start for the Cubs, while rookie Jacob Misiorowski is expected to pitch for Milwaukee. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT with coverage available on the Marquee Sports Network.