Ian Happ keys big inning as Cubs overwhelm Brewers

Ian Happ hit a three-run home run in a four-run sixth inning as the visiting Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-2 Saturday.

The Cubs will try to win the series Sunday as the teams split the first two games.

Brewers starter Kyle Harrison retired the first 10 batters he faced, but Matt Shaw singled up the middle with one out in the fourth.

Seiya Suzuki put the Cubs on top with an opposite-field home run to right to make it 2-1.

Harrison gave up three hits and two runs in five innings. The southpaw walked one and struck out nine in 92 pitches.

Cubs starter David Peterson (4-6), meanwhile, gave up a home run on his first pitch as a Cub.

The southpaw, who spent his first 10 years with the Mets before being traded Wednesday, watched Jackson Chourio smash a home run to center to lead off the first to make it 1-0.

Chicago has four starting pitchers on the IL, including Cade Horton who is done for the season. Starter Matthew Boyd has also been on the IL twice.

Peterson settled down after that, until Blake Perkins led off the fifth with a double and came home on a Sal Frelick single to tie the game 2-2.

Peterson gave up five hits and two runs in five-plus innings. He had no walks and two strikeouts in 69 pitches.

The Cubs took the lead for good off reliever Chad Patrick (5-4) in the sixth.

Alex Bregman and Michale Busch started the rally by drawing back-to-back two-out walks.

Nico Hoerner drove in Bregman to make it 3-2 with a single to right through the infield.

Happ gave Chicago a four-run lead with a towering shot deep to right field to score both Busch and Hoerner.

Bregman gave the Cubs a five-run cushion by driving in Shaw with a sacrifice fly.

The Cubs had a shot at another run, but Suzuki was thrown at the plate after a Busch single.

Michael Conforto gave the Cubs one more insurance run in the ninth with his third pinch-hit home run of the season.

--Field Level Media