MILWAUKEE — Mike Tauchman hit a go-ahead single in Chicago's five-run 10th inning that appeared to bounce off Trevor Megill's throwing elbow, and the Cubs stopped a five-game skid by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 6-3 on Tuesday night.
Ben Brown struck out a career-high 10 in seven hitless innings, continuing the Brewers' season-long futility against Cubs starting pitchers. The Brewers got their first hit on Sal Frelick's one-out single off Hayden Wesneski in the eighth.
''It was like an angry fastball,'' Cubs manager Craig Counsell said of Brown. ''It was just really good, and it was overpowering for much of the game.''
Cubs starters have combined to throw 32 1/3 shutout innings against the Brewers so far this season. The Cubs turned to their bullpen after Brown threw a career-high 93 pitches, 64 for strikes, in the right-hander's sixth career start and 13th appearance overall.
''I kind of understand how it works,'' Brown said. ''I've said it a million times: I trust Craig. He's awesome. He's great. He's doing it for my career moving forward and what's best for the team.''
After Willy Adames' two-out RBI single in the ninth forced extra innings, Tauchman opened the 10th by delivering a 99.4-mph shot that hit Megill, who reacted in obvious pain and headed straight toward the dugout.
As Megill left the field, the ball remained right in front of the pitcher's mound for several seconds before first baseman Owen Miller raced toward it. But automatic runner Luis Vázquez slid home safely to put Chicago ahead for good by scoring the first run of his career.
''Super happy, super excited,'' Vázquez said through a translator. ''I hope that's the first of many."