Brewers edge past Cubs in Game 5 to end playoff frustrations, punch ticket to NLCS

MILWAUKEE — Andrew Vaughn hit a tiebreaking homer within the fourth inning and William Contreras and Brice Turang additionally went deep because the Milwaukee Brewers shook off their current historical past of playoff frustration by beating the Chicago Cubs 3-1 within the decisive fifth recreation of their NL Division Sequence on Saturday.

The Brewers, making their seventh playoff look in eight years, earned their first postseason sequence win since sweeping Colorado in a 2018 NLDS. Milwaukee was on the verge of its second World Sequence berth that 12 months earlier than shedding Sport 7 of the Nationwide League Championship Sequence at house to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Now, the Brewers get one other NLCS matchup with the defending World Sequence champion Dodgers, who beat the Philadelphia Phillies in 4 video games within the different NL Division Sequence. Sport 1 is Monday at Milwaukee because the Brewers chase their first pennant since 1982 — again after they performed within the American League.

“Lots of people didn’t imagine in them early on, they usually simply continued to remain relentless,” Brewers supervisor Pat Murphy mentioned.

After shedding slugging shortstop Willy Adames in free company and buying and selling away All-Star nearer Devin Williams final winter, the scrappy Brewers completed the common season with the most effective file within the majors at 97-65.

So maybe it was no shock that NL Central champion Milwaukee gained with an all-hands-on-deck pitching method within the ultimate recreation in opposition to wild-card Chicago. Trevor Megill, Jacob Misiorowski, Aaron Ashby, Chad Patrick and Abner Uribe mixed on a four-hitter, with Uribe getting six outs for the primary multi-inning save of his profession.

“You’ll be able to name them the typical Joes, however I say they’re the above-average Joes,” Murphy mentioned.

The victory was significantly candy for Milwaukee followers as a result of it got here in opposition to the membership’s largest rival and knocked Cubs supervisor Craig Counsell out of the postseason.

Counsell grew up within the Milwaukee space, performed for the Brewers and have become the winningest supervisor in group historical past till he left for Chicago.

Within the two seasons since Counsell’s departure, Brewers followers have booed each point out of his title every time the Cubs have visited American Household Discipline. They did it once more Saturday, although the sellout crowd appeared to incorporate extra Cubs backers than in Milwaukee’s Sport 1 and Sport 2 house victories.

“Simply actually completely satisfied for ‘em,” longtime Brewers star Christian Yelich mentioned of Milwaukee followers. “They’ve caught with us through the years by means of some actually robust losses. And I do know there was rather a lot using on this sequence for them simply due to the rivalry, and actually completely satisfied that we might ship for ’em as a result of they actually deserve it.”

The Cubs pressured Sport 5 by successful two straight at Wrigley Discipline. They had been trying to grow to be the eleventh group to erase a 2-0 deficit and win a best-of-five playoff sequence, a feat final achieved by the New York Yankees in opposition to Cleveland of their 2017 ALDS.

“I’m upset. I’m unhappy,” Counsell mentioned. “I believe this group did rather a lot to honor the Chicago Cub uniform. Within the massive image, that’s how I really feel.”

Homers produced all of the runs on this winner-take-all recreation, and every of Milwaukee’s got here with two outs.

Contreras hit a 389-foot shot to left-center off Drew Pomeranz within the first inning. Vaughn despatched a 3-2 pitch from Colin Rea over the left-field wall to interrupt a 1-all tie, and Turang supplied some insurance coverage with a 416-foot drive to heart off Andrew Kittredge within the seventh.

“We combat again. That’s our mentality. We combat again,” Vaughn mentioned. “We’re going to punch another person. We’re going to throw it proper again.”

Chicago’s Seiya Suzuki greeted Misiorowski by sending a 101.4 mph fastball into the Cubs bullpen main off the second inning, however that was the one run the rookie right-hander allowed in 4 innings. Misiorowski struck out three whereas giving up three hits and strolling none to earn his second win of the sequence.

He pitched three innings of shutout aid in Milwaukee’s 7-3 triumph in Sport 2.

“It’s been loopy,” the 23-year-old Misiorowski mentioned. “It’s been a whirlwind and it’s been enjoyable.”

The Brewers introduced in Misiorowski within the second inning after Megill labored because the opener and retired the aspect so as within the first. The Cubs had totaled 11 first-inning runs within the first 4 video games of the sequence with out ever going scoreless within the opening body.

After Suzuki’s homer, they didn’t rating once more Saturday.

“We simply didn’t do a lot. We had six baserunners. You’re going to must hit homers to have any runs scoring in situations like that. They pitched very effectively,” Counsell mentioned. “This group is loaded with superb pitching. It’s definitely a power of the group. And it’s why they’ve gained so many video games.”

Chicago’s greatest menace got here when it put two on with no person out within the sixth in opposition to Ashby, who had thrown 32 pitches two nights earlier in Milwaukee’s 6-0 Sport 4 loss. Michael Busch hit a leadoff single earlier than Ashby grazed Nico Hoerner with a pitch.

Ashby obtained Kyle Tucker to strike out swinging at a 3-2 pitch for the primary out. Patrick then got here out of the bullpen and retired Suzuki on a fly to left earlier than Ian Happ struck out wanting.

“We didn’t get it finished right now, and that hurts,” Counsell mentioned. “Man, it doesn’t really feel good, however I believe while you zoom again just a little bit, we did some good issues as effectively.”