Busch's leadoff homer, Ballesteros' 3-run double help Cubs beat Brewers to avoid sweep
Milwaukee leads Chicago by one game in the NL Central. The teams meet once more this season, a five-game series at Chicago from Aug. 18-21.
Ian Happ homered, Pete Crow-Armstrong went 3 for 4 with two doubles and Kyle Tucker was 2 for 3 with two RBIs for the Cubs.
Milwaukee's William Contreras had his fifth career two-homer game. The two-time All-Star had homered just once since May 23.
Cubs starter Shota Imanaga (8-4) struck out eight, walked none and gave up three runs and five hits in five innings.
Milwaukee's Freddy Peralta (12-5), who had won his last seven starts, allowed a season-high five runs in four innings.
Busch opened the game with a 388-foot shot to right for his 21st homer.
Contreras answered in the bottom half with his first homer since June 14. He led off the fourth with an opposite-field shot to right.
The Cubs padded their lead with three runs in the sixth and two in the ninth.
Crow-Armstrong hit a grounder that glanced off the glove of diving second baseman Brice Turang and into right field for a double that made it 2-1 in the third. Ballesteros hit his three-run double later in the inning.
Peralta struck out three and has 1,083 for his career, passing Teddy Higuera (1,081) for third in franchise history. He trails Yovani Gallardo (1,226) and Ben Sheets (1,206).
Cade Horton (4-3, 3.67) pitches for the Cubs on Friday in the opener of a series against visiting Baltimore. José Quintana (7-4, 3.50) is the Brewers' scheduled starter for Friday as they welcome Washington and Mitchell Parker (7-10, 4.91).
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