Brewers delay Cubs clinching celebration with 5-4 win

WP: Jimmy Nelson (8-14)
LP: Justin Grimm (1-1)
SV: Tyler Thornburg (12)

HR: Jorge Soler (12), Keon Broxton (9)

Box Score

It may have been a clinching night for the Cubs, but the Brewers didn’t let it happen at their expense. Led by RBI hits from Orlando Arcia and Scooter Gennett, the Brewers opened their series against the Cubs with a 5-4 win.

The Cubs started the game with the lead tonight, getting a 2-0 lead on a two-run home run by Jorge Soler. The Brewers responded in the fourth, starting with a leadoff home run from Keon Broxton. After outs from Ryan Braun and Chris Carter, Hernan Perez reached base on a throwing error, and back-to-back doubles from Domingo Santana and Orlando Arcia put the Brewers up 3-2 after four innings.

Mike Montgomery helped his own case with an RBI single in the fourth inning to tie it up at 3-3, where the game stayed until the seventh inning. Both pitchers lasted just six innings, with Montgomery the better pitcher, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk with seven strikeouts. Jimmy Nelson matched Montgomery’s three runs and seven strikeouts, but allowed eight hits and two walks in his night.

Facing reliever Justin Grimm in the seventh inning, Domingo Santana led off with a double and Martin Maldonado walked to put two runners on base for pinch-hitter Scooter Gennett. He hit a double to left field that scored both runner, putting the Brewers ahead 5-3.

Carlos Torres came in to pitch the seventh, going 1-2-3 after a pickoff got Kris Bryant at first base. He stayed out for the eighth, walking Ben Zobrist to start the inning before striking out the next two batters. Counsell pulled Torres here for Tyler Thornburg, who allowed a double to Jason Heyward on his second pitch to close the gap to 5-4. Miguel Montero walked to put two runners on base with Heyward at third, but Willson Contreras struck out to end the inning. Thornburg went back out for the ninth, and worked around a walk to end the game and preserve the Brewers win.

On offense, Domingo Santana was the only Brewer who managed a two-hit night, and was the only batter to reach base twice. Arcia and Gennett each drove in two, and Broxton had the other RBI for the Brewers.

Though the Brewers win kept the Cubs magic number at 1, the Cubs would clinch the division later that night when the Cardinals lost to the Giants. The Cubs won’t get to party for too long though, as they have another game set for tomorrow afternoon. In usual Chicago fashion, it’s a Friday afternoon game as Chase Anderson faces John Lackey. First pitch is at 1:20 pm.