CHICAGO – The first-place Milwaukee Brewers try for just their fifth-ever series sweep against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field and first since 2021 on Wednesday night, May 21.
Milwaukee, which slid into the top spot in the Central Division standings on Tuesday, took a four-game series from Aug. 10-12, 2021 and three-game series from the Cubs in 2001, 2002 and 2017.
Left-hander Kyle Harrison (4-1, 2.09) starts for the Brewers and will be countered by Cubs right-hander Edward Cabrera (3-1, 4.06).
Milwaukee tacks on in the third
William Contreras drew a leadoff walk, stole second on a Christian Yelich strikeout and advanced to third when Carson Kelly threw the ball into center field.
Two batters later, Jake Bauers ripped a single to right to up Milwaukee’s lead to 4-0, his on-base streak to 21 games and hitting streak to a career-high 11.
After Harrison retired the Cubs in order in the bottom of the frame, Cabrera needed to be removed one pitch into the fourth with a right middle finger blister.
Brewers making their own breaks early
After Nico Hoerner doubled to lead off the bottom of the first he attempted to tag and go from second to third on a flyout to center by Alex Bregman.
Garrett Mitchell made a pinpoint, 90.5-mph throw to third with Hoerner being ruled safe initially but later out after the Brewers challenged. Harrison then struck out Ian Happ to finish the inning.
Then with one out in the second, the Brewers successfully challenged Sal Frelick nicking Carson Kelly’s glove on a swing. He stole second and Joey Ortiz walked to bring David Hamilton to the plate.
He lined a single to center that Pete Crow-Armstrong completely overran, with the ball having been hit hard enough that it rolled all the way to the warning track in center.
Frelick and Ortiz scored easily, and Hamilton came all the way around to score as well to give himself a “Little League” homer and the Brewers a 3-0 lead.
Brewers 2026 record
28-18.
Brewers lineup
Cubs lineup
Brewers probable pitchers, schedule
Off day, May 21
Brewers vs Dodgers, May 22 6:40 p.m.: Milwaukee RHP Logan Henderson (1-1, 3.50) vs. Los Angeles LHP Justin Wrobleski (6-1, 2.49). TV – Brewers TV. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.
Brewers vs Dodgers, May 23 6:15 p.m.: Milwaukee LHP Robert Gasser (0-0, 4.50) vs. Los Angeles RHP Roki Sasaki (2-3, 5.09). TV – FOX. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.
Brewers vs Dodgers, May 24 1:10 p.m.: Milwaukee RHP Brandon Sproat (1-2, 5.75) vs. Los Angeles RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3-4, 3.32). TV – Brewers TV. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers 4, Cubs 0: Pete Crow-Armstrong helps out Milwaukee in a big way
Reporting by Todd Rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
