CHICAGO (AP) — With every big swing, Keston Hiura is making an argument for more playing time with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Hiura homered twice and drove in three runs, and the Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs 5-2 on Sunday to salvage the finale of their weekend series.
After losing 2 of 3 to the Cubs, now the Brewers are at LA to take on the Dodgers. Pregame Monday on WKTY begins at 8:45 p.m. Tune in on 96.7 FM / 580 AM
Rowdy Tellez also connected and Willy Adames hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly for Milwaukee, which had dropped three of four. The Brewers blew three one-run leads during a 6-5 loss to the Cubs in 11 innings on Saturday.
“When you’re losing and losing tough ones, it’s good to get off with a win, especially before a long flight,” reliever Brent Suter said.
Hiura is batting .311 (19 for 61) with seven homers and 11 RBIs in his last 21 games dating to June 17. He was optioned to Triple-A Nashville on July 13 and brought back up on Aug. 3.
“We’re trying to give him spots where he can be successful,” manager Craig Counsell said, “and he’s showing us that he is earning more.”
Suter (5-3) got four outs for the win on Counsell’s 52nd birthday, and Taylor Rogers worked the ninth for his first save since he was acquired in the Aug. 1 trade that sent Josh Hader to San Diego.
Milwaukee remained five games back of NL Central-leading St. Louis, which rallied for a 6-4 win at Arizona.
Chicago wasted a stellar performance by Justin Steele, who struck out nine in six scoreless innings. Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki homered, but the Cubs finished with just five hits.
Chicago had won five in a row and nine of 12 overall.
Adames put Milwaukee ahead to stay when he drove in Kolten Wong with a fly ball to center in the eighth. Wong reached on a leadoff pinch-hit single and advanced to third on two wild pitches by Rowan Wick (3-6).
Hiura made it 5-2 when he hit a two-run shot off Kervin Castro in the ninth. It was Hiura’s second career multihomer game.
“I’m just going out there, making the most of my opportunities and enjoying my time here,” Hiura said. “It’s a fun team.”
Steele allowed two hits — both singles — and walked one. The left-hander is winless in his last five starts, but he has a sparkling 0.79 ERA and 33 strikeouts over his last 22 2/3 innings.
“From where he’s come from early in the season, it just feels like you’re getting that performance every time he steps foot on the mound, all the way around,” manager David Ross said.
While Steele cruised along for Chicago, Brandon Woodruff kept Milwaukee in the game with 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball.
Woodruff got off to a taxing start when he needed 13 pitches to retire leadoff man Nick Madrigal on a fly ball to right. After Nico Hoerner grounded out, Happ hit a drive to right for his 13th homer this season and No. 100 for his career.
Suzuki added his 10th homer in the fourth, reaching the basket in center, but Milwaukee jumped on Chicago’s bullpen in the seventh.
On Mark Leiter Jr.’s first pitch after Andrew McCutchen was caught stealing, Tellez hit a drive to right-center for his 26th homer. Ross then brought in rookie left-hander Brandon Hughes, and Hiura went deep for his 11th homer on the year.
It was Milwaukee’s fifth set of back-to-back homers this season.
HE’S HERE
Former Cubs left-hander Jon Lester, who helped the team win the 2016 World Series, got a big ovation when he was shown on the videoboard in left field. He stood and acknowledged the cheers with a couple waves.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Brewers: INF/OF Jace Peterson (left elbow sprain) is expected to begin a rehab stint with High-A Wisconsin on Tuesday.
Cubs: 3B Patrick Wisdom was out of the starting lineup after he hurt the ring finger on this left hand during Saturday’s 11-inning victory. X-rays were negative, and Ross said Wisdom is day to day. … Ross said LHP Wade Miley was feeling better after recently experiencing more shoulder discomfort. “I think he’s going to try to get off the bump tomorrow, just push his bullpen back a day,” Ross said. Miley hasn’t pitched in a big league game since June 10.
UP NEXT
Brewers: LHP Eric Lauer (8-5, 3.58 ERA) starts Monday night in the opener of a three-game series at the Los Angeles Dodgers. LHP Julio Urías (13-6, 2.40 ERA) takes the mound for the NL West leaders.
Cubs: LHP Drew Smyly (5-6, 3.67 ERA) faces St. Louis LHP Jordan Montgomery (6-3, 3.29 ERA) on Monday night in opener of a five-game series against the Cardinals. Smyly is 2-0 with a 1.06 ERA in three August starts.
TOP PHOTO: Milwaukee Brewers’ Keston Hiura celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Jay Cohen can be reached at https://twitter.com/jcohenap