Shedding his struggles, rookie Jackson Chourio jump-starts Brewers' game-turning rally vs the Cubs

CHICAGO – The Milwaukee Brewers offense badly needed a spark in the eighth inning.

They got it – and from an unlikely source, at that.

Rookie Jackson Chourio, who entered Friday’s game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field hitting just .206 on the season and had been 6 for his last 45 (.133), singled with one out, stole second and scored to tie the game.

It was a one-man rally that helped the Brewers open the floodgates, as they scored three more times after Chourio's contributions to register a 3-1 victory in their first meeting with former skipper Craig Counsell.

"Chourio was the principal piece of that to start all of that," said catcher William Contreras, who next singled behind Chourio and scored what proved to be the go-ahead run.

With right-hander Hayden Wisneski starting for the Cubs, it was an all left-handed-hitting outfield for Milwaukee which went with Jake Bauers in left, Blake Perkins in center and Sal Frelick in right.

Wesneski ultimately threw 6 ⅓ strong innings and limited the Brewers to just three singles and two walks on a breezy, cool day before departing. Richard Lovelady contributed an inning behind him out of the bullpen before Chourio helped break the seal.

Jackson Chourio jump-starts Brewers rally with his pinch hit single vs Cubs

Facing former closer Adbert Alzolay, Chourio quickly fell behind in the count, 0-2, before battling back to even. He fouled the next two pitches off and then took Ball 3 before getting a slider out over the plate that he was able to roll back through the middle and into center field for a single.

"I spent the majority of the day staying loose in the cages and getting ready," Chourio said through interpreter Daniel de Mondesert. "Fortunately, I knew the time was coming at some point in the game, and I was ready for it."

"One hundred percent," said associate manager Rickie Weeks, filling in for the suspended Pat Murphy, when asked if he'd quantify Chourio's at-bat as one expected from a veteran player. Weeks pulled Frelick (0 for 3 to that point) with the left-handed Lovelady still in, so Counsell countered with the righty Alzolay.

Weeks's choices for pinch-hitters at that point were down to Chourio and Joey Wiemer with Gary Sánchez technically available but the Brewers wanted to stay away from using him if possible due to his balky right hamstring.

"He's been scuffling a little bit lately," Weeks continued. "But seeing the work that he's put in, being that young and not being really scared, I thought he was the right man for the job right there.

"So, kudos to him, for sure. I didn't think twice about it, to be honest with you."

Jackson Chourio was first of four Brewers to steal in the game-turning eighth inning

Chourio wasted little time stealing second against catcher Miguel Amaya. That put him into scoring position for Contreras, who fell behind 1-2 before following with a single of his own to plate Chourio and pull the Brewers even.

"It was a great AB," Contreras said of his rookie teammate's contributions. "Eight pitches and was able to get on base, steal a bag and score a run for us."

Another rookie, Tyler Black, was unable to deliver as he was called out on strikes for the second out.

Contreras also stole second and Willy Adames also came through after falling behind 1-2, singling to center to drive in the go-ahead run. Then right on cue, Adames pilfered second and Bauer came through despite also falling behind 1-2 to drive him in with a single of his own to center.

That made it 3-1, and Alzolay was knocked from the game.

Milwaukee made it four stolen bases in the inning when Bauers took second with Colten Brewer on the mound, but Rhys Hoskins struck out swinging. It marked the first time since Aug. 14, 2015 that the Brewers stole four bases in an inning.

"Have you seen us play yet?" Weeks asked rhetorically when queried about his team's aggressiveness on the basepaths. At the conclusion of the game the Brewers ranked third in the majors with 45 steals.

"For our offense to really work, we have to be creative. And creativity comes with getting on base, maybe having a bunt here or there, maybe stealing a base. But those guys in the clubhouse, they're baseball players, and when you have that you have a good chance of winning a baseball game at the end."

Jackson Chourio stats: Rookie striking out a lot but playing strong defense in right field

Ups and downs were expected for Chourio in his rookie season and so far that's what it's been for the 20-year-old.

Now hitting .212, Chourio also sports a .262 on-base percentage, .616 OPS and team-high 34 strikeouts in 28 games. He also has homered four times, stolen six bases and is yet to commit an error in the outfield despite playing exclusively in right field, a spot he had next to no experience at coming into the season.

Milwaukee's outfield depth appeared to take another hit in the ninth inning when Wiemer suffered what appeared to be a knee injury after being inserted in left as a defensive replacement.

So the Brewers will continue to roll with Chourio, and hope that the ups become more frequent than the downs moving forward. At the very least, they love his positive attitude and willingness to learn.

"Day by day we're adjusting," Chourio said. "Definitely at the beginning it was something new, but I'm getting more comfortable as the days go on and making the adjustments necessary.

"I feel good."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Rookie Jackson Chourio jump-starts Brewers' game-turning rally vs Cubs