The Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-0 at Wrigley Field in Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Oct. 9 to force a winner-take-all showdown in Milwaukee.
The Cubs jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning on Ian Happ’s three-run homer and the score stayed that way until Chicago added runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth to put the game out of reach.
The Brewers won the first two games of the series at home and looked to be heading towards a romp against their NL Central rival, but the Cubs recovered to win Game 3 on Wednesday and delay Milwaukee’s celebrations at least another day.
Now, the series heads back up the Lake Michigan coastline with Game 5 is set for Saturday at American Family Field.
‘We had to earn two hard-fought wins. We did that,’ Brewers manager Craig Counsell told reporters. ‘Now we get the opportunity and the fun of getting to go close out a series.’
Since the wild card era began in 1995, only seven teams have come back from a 2-0 deficit to win a division series, most recently the New York Yankees in 2017.
Here’s how Thursday’s game unfolded:
Carson Kelly home run overturned
Chicago’s catcher hit a bomb down the left field line that was initially ruled a fair ball inside the foul poll and two-run homer. The play was reviewed and replays showed it was foul, missing the pole by a few inches.
Kelly was called back out to finish the at-bat and grounded out on a play that the Cubs challenged.
Kyle Tucker home run makes it 5-0 Cubs
Kyle Tucker greeted new Brewers pitcher Robert Gasser with an opposite-field solo home, extending Chicago’s lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the seventh.
Tucker, acquired last winter, is a free agent at the end of the season and is expected to fetch one of the biggest contracts in MLB history.
Matt Shaw adds insurance run for Cubs
Carson Kelly reached on an error and Aaron Ashby walked Dansby Swanson before Matt Shaw hit an RBI single to center to make it 4-0. But the Brewers avoided further damage with Ashby getting Michael Busch before Chad Patrick came on to retire Nico Hoerner and strand runners on second and third.
Cubs squander chance to blow it open
Aaron Ashby came on to replace Trevor Megill, who had put runners on first and second in the bottom of the fifth. The Brewers’ lefty walked Kyle Tucker to load the bases but struck out Seiya Suzuki and got Ian Happ to fly out to center to strand all three runners
Matthew Boyd, Cubs escape jam in fifth
After an uneventful fourth inning for both clubs, Chicago starter Matthew Boyd ran into some trouble to start the fifth. Sal Frelick doubled and Blake Perkins walked before No. 9 hitter Joey Ortiz moved them over with a sacrifice bunt.
Boyd was able to punch out Christian Yelich, though, and then was lifted from the game. Boyd went 4.2 innings, finishing with six strikeouts and three walks.
Daniel Palencia came on in relief and got Jackson Chourio to pop out, ending the threat.
The Cubs still lead 3-0.
Score after 3 innings: Cubs 3, Brewers 0
Freddy Peralta finally had a quiet inning in the third, retiring the side in order.
Counterpart Matthew Boyd has had little trouble so far, allowing just one hit and two walks.
Still 3-0 Cubs after 2 innings
Brewers starter Freddy Peralta got himself into another jam in the second, with an infield single followed by a walk with two outs, but this time he managed to get out of it.
Ian Happ homer gives Cubs early lead
The Cubs’ bid to force a decisive Game 5 is off to a good start.
Ian Happ hammered a ball into the right field seats at Wrigley Field to give the Cubs a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
Brewers starter Freddy Peralta got in trouble as Nico Hoerner reached base with a single and then Kyle Tucker walked to put men on first and second with one out. Peralta got Seiya Suzuki to strike out but Happ pounced on his 1-1 offering down the middle.
Peralta struck out Carson Kelly to end the inning, but significant damage had already been done.
What time is Cubs vs Brewers game tonight?
First pitch in Game 4 is scheduled for 9:08 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field.
Where to watch Brewers vs Cubs: TV channel, live stream
Thursday’s Game 4 will air on TBS and HBO Max and can be streamed with Sling TV. With the Phillies-Dodgers game going to extra innings, Game 4 between the Brewers and Cubs is beginning on TNT.
Watch Cubs vs Phillies on Sling TV
Get your MLB postseason questions answered!
USA TODAY Sports MLB reporter Gabe Lacques is taking questions live at 11:30 a.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 10.
Submit questions now and stop by for the full Q&A on USATODAY.com.
Brewers lineup tonight
- Christian Yelich (L) DH
- Jackson Chourio (R) LF
- William Contreras (R) C
- Brice Turang (L) 2B
- Andrew Vaughn (R) 1B
- Caleb Durbin (R) 3B
- Sal Frelick (L) RF
- Blake Perkins (S) CF
Cubs lineup tonight
- Michael Busch (L) 1B
- Nico Hoerner (R) 2B
- Kyle Tucker (L) DH
- Seiya Suzuki (R) RF
- Ian Happ (S) LF
- Carson Kelly (R) C
- Pete Crow-Armstrong (L) CF
- Dansby Swanson (R) SS
- Matt Shaw (R) 3B