Rookie Jackson Chourio hit his first career grand slam to pace Milwaukee to a 4-2 victory over the visiting Chicago Cubs on Friday night, the Brewers’ fifth consecutive victory.
Chourio’s slam with two outs in the fourth off Jameson Taillon put the Brewers up 4-2. Christian Yelich reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second. With two outs, Sal Frelick reached on catcher interference and Rhys Hoskins lined an infield single off pitcher Taillon’s glove to load the bases.
The 20-year-old Chourio, who was hitting .312 with three homers and 13 RBIs over his previous 20 games, then sent a 1-2 pitch 377 feet to left for his ninth homer.
Milwaukee starter Colin Rea (7-2) allowed two runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out a season-high eight, with two walks and two hit batters to win his fourth straight decision.
Taillon (4-4) allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits in six innings, striking out five and walking one for Chicago, which has lost five of its past six.
Chicago loaded the bases in the seventh on a walk and two infield singles off Elvis Peguero, but Jared Koenig came on and got pinch hitter Patrick Wisdom on an inning-ending flyout to center.
Koenig struck out the side in the eighth and Trevor Megill finished with a perfect ninth for his 17th save in 18 opportunities.
The Cubs took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth. Seiya Suzuki had a one-out solo homer, his 10th. Ian Happ doubled, Christopher Morel was hit by a pitch and Dansby Swanson followed with an RBI single to left.
Rea escaped further damage by inducing a double-play grounder by Pete Crow-Armstrong to end the inning.
–Field Level Media
