Ian Happ hit a three-run homer and David Peterson earned the win in his Chicago Cubs debut, despite giving up a home run on the very first pitch he threw as a Cub. Chicago defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 8-2 on Saturday night.
Happ’s 17th home run of the season capped a four-run sixth inning that propelled the Cubs to a 6-2 lead. Peterson, who was acquired from the Mets on Thursday to strengthen the Cubs' pitching rotation amid injuries, allowed Jackson Chourio's 11th homer to start the game. However, he recovered to give up just two runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings pitched.
"David Peterson objectively just had the worst start to a tenure of all-time 💀Literally the first pitch he threw as a Cub was hit for a homer," read a social media post accompanying a video of the play.
Seiya Suzuki and Michael Conforto also homered for the Cubs. The win moved Chicago 6 1/2 games behind the NL Central-leading Brewers, who had won the first four matchups between the two teams this season.
Chad Patrick relieved Peterson to begin the sixth inning and retired the first two batters before issuing two walks. Nico Hoerner then delivered an RBI single to give the Cubs a 3-2 advantage. Happ followed with a home run to right field, his first since June 13.
Alex Bregman extended the lead to 7-2 in the seventh with a sacrifice fly, and Conforto added a pinch-hit homer in the ninth inning.
Earlier, Kyle Harrison retired the first 10 hitters before Matt Shaw singled in the fourth. Suzuki then hit his 12th homer to put the Cubs ahead 2-1. The Brewers tied the game at 2-2 in the fifth when Blake Perkins doubled and Sal Frelick followed with an RBI single.
The Cubs acquired Peterson in a trade for minor-league infielder Cole Mathis, addressing a need created by injuries to starting pitchers Edward Cabrera and Ben Brown, who joined three other starters on the injured list.