Cubs top Brewers 5-3 on June 18, 2025, powered by homers from Seiya Suzuki & Pete Crow-Armstrong. Read how the Cubs extended their NL Central lead at home.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Another beautiful night at Wrigley Field, another big-time win for the first-place Chicago Cubs. Powered by the long ball and contributions from up and down the lineup, the Cubs dispatched the rival Milwaukee Brewers 5-3, tightening their grip on the NL Central and showing once again why this team feels different.
Pete Crow-Armstrong launched a 452-foot solo homer in the eighth inning, a towering shot that put an exclamation point on the victory.
The turning point came in the bottom of the fifth. Trailing 2-1, the Cubs needed a spark, and Seiya Suzuki provided a full-blown inferno. After Ian Happ and Kyle Tucker reached base, Suzuki crushed a 412-foot, three-run homer to left-center. His 18th of the season completely flipped the script, electrifying the Wrigley crowd and putting the Cubs ahead for good. It was the kind of clutch, game-changing hit that defines a division race.
While Suzuki played the hero, the youth movement continued to make its presence felt. Pete Crow-Armstrong put the exclamation point on the win with a colossal 452-foot solo homer in the eighth inning, a no-doubter that showcased his raw power. Not to be outdone, fellow rookie Matt Shaw chipped in with a crucial RBI double, continuing his impressive start to his big-league career. The future is bright, but more importantly, the future is now.
The man who scored on Suzuki's homer, Kyle Tucker, had a fantastic night of his own, racking up three hits. The early-season trade that sent prospect Cam Smith to Houston for the All-Star outfielder continues to look like a masterstroke by the front office. Tucker's consistent production at the top of the order has been a stabilizing force for this offense, while starter Ben Brown battled for five innings to earn his fourth win.
Even after trading a top talent for Tucker, the Cubs' pipeline is anything but dry. Just look to Triple-A Iowa, where No. 2 prospect Owen Caissie had a career-high four hits last night, knocking on the door of the majors. In fact, the Cubs still boast seven players in MLB's Top 100 prospects, tied for the most in baseball. As farm director Jason Kanzler noted, the organization has incredible depth, giving them assets for the future and potential chips to play at the trade deadline.
With a 45-28 record and a 6.5 game lead, the Cubs are firing on all cylinders. They're winning, their stars are performing in the clutch, their young players are contributing, and the farm system remains elite. As this homestand continues, the message is clear: the road to the NL Central title runs through the North Side of Chicago.
