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CHICAGO (AP) — Mike Brosseau's first career pinch-hit homer snapped a tie in the seventh inning, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs 5-4 on Sunday for their first victory of the season.
Willy Adames and Rowdy Tellez also went deep, helping the reigning NL Central champions overcome a shaky performance by Freddy Peralta. Christian Yelich had two hits and drove in a run.
After Brosseau connected, Milwaukee's vaunted bullpen took over.
Brad Boxberger (1-0) worked the seventh, stranding a runner on third when Jonathan Villar was retired on a close call at first base that was upheld by a replay review. Devin Williams then got three outs before Josh Hader pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save.
Seiya Suzuki hit his first major league homer for Chicago, and Marcus Stroman pitched five effective innings in his Cubs debut. The Cubs were trying to go 3-0 for the first time since 2016.
With two outs and runners on first and second in the first, Suzuki drove a 3-1 pitch from Peralta deep to center field. Suzuki, who signed an $85 million, five-year contract with the Cubs last month, also had three RBIs during Saturday's 9-0 win.
Stroman, who finalized a $71 million, three-year contract with Chicago on Dec. 1, allowed one run and two hits. The right-hander struck out three and walked three.
Stroman exited with a 3-1 lead, but the Brewers jumped all over Jesse Chavez in the sixth. Yelich doubled home Adames, and Tellez hit a one-out drive to right-center for his first homer of the season.
The Cubs tied it at 4 on two wild pitches by Jake Cousins with two outs in the bottom half, but the Brewers went ahead to stay on Brosseau's drive to center against Daniel Norris (0-1).
Peralta, who went 10-5 with a 2.81 ERA for Milwaukee last year, allowed three hits, struck out six and walked four in four innings.
It was a tough opening series for the Brewers' front three starters of Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff and Peralta. They yielded 13 earned runs and 10 walks in 12 2/3 innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cubs: OF Ian Happ was out of the starting lineup. He left Saturday's 9-0 victory after he was hit on the left knee by a pitch in the seventh inning. “He's doing all right,” manager David Ross said. With the off day on Monday, Ross said it just made sense to give him another day. ... LHP Wade Miley (elbow inflammation) felt good after playing catch Saturday, according to Ross. He was slated to play catch again before taking Monday off. ... RHP Alec Mills (low back strain) was scheduled to throw a simulated game in Arizona on Sunday.
UP NEXT
Brewers: RHP Adrian Houser starts Monday at Baltimore. Houser went 10-6 with a 3.22 ERA in 28 appearances last year. LHP Bruce Zimmermann pitches for the Orioles in their home opener.
Cubs: Following an off day, LHP Drew Smyly starts Tuesday at Pittsburgh. The 32-year-old Smyly went 11-4 with a 4.48 ERA in 29 games, 23 starts, for Atlanta last year. Former Cubs LHP José Quintana pitches for the Pirates in their home opener.
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Jay Cohen can be reached at https://twitter.com/jcohenap
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