Cubs 6, Brewers 0
The Chicago Cubs shut out the Milwaukee Brewers 6-0 in Wednesday’s NLDS Game Four at Wrigley Field, tying the series at two games each. The Cubs forced a winner-take-all Game 5 in Milwaukee thanks to a strong pitching performance from Matthew Boyd and timely power from the middle of the order.
Cubs – Brewers Game Summary
The Cubs wasted no time establishing the tone. Ian Happ smashed a three-run home run off Brewers starter Freddy Peralta in the bottom of the first inning, giving the Cubs a 3-0 lead and energizing the home crowd. Matthew Boyd then delivered one of his best performances of the season, pitching five scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and striking out six. Matt Shaw drove in Carson Kelly with a single to right center in the sixth inning, making it 4-0. Kyle Tucker added to the Cubs’ lead in the seventh with a solo shot to center field, followed by Michael Busch‘s eighth-inning home run to make it 6-0. The Brewers only had three hits and were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position, stranding six runners total. Cubs relievers completed the shutout, with Drew Pomeranz and Caleb Thielbar slamming the door.
What Went Right for the Cubs
Offense Continued to Produce Under Pressure
The Cubs’ offense demonstrated its depth yet again. Ian Happ’s first-inning homer gave them an early lead, and Tucker and Busch provided late insurance with two no-doubt bombs. The Cubs’ ability to combine patience at the plate with power hitting wore down the Brewers’ pitching and kept them from settling in.
Matthew Boyd
Matthew Boyd was in authority from beginning to end. His fastball location and offspeed mix kept Brewers batters guessing all night, and he only allowed two singles in five innings. Manager Craig Counsell had faith in his starter, noting in his pregame press conference, “He was an All Star this year. He put up a very, very good — he had a very good season. Been our most consistent starter from start to finish. That’s all part of the makeup. He’s just a good pitcher.” His effort set the tone for the relief corps, which responded with four scoreless innings of its own. It was a textbook example of pitching performance that drives postseason success.
Stellar Defense
The Cubs’ defense was immaculate, from Nico Hoerner‘s smooth plays at second to Pete Crow-Armstrong hunting down balls in center. Every throw, tag, and relay was crisp, demonstrating a team that was focused and refused to allow the Brewers any extra opportunities. Their ability to limit mistakes reduced the Brewers’ rally chances to a minimum all night.
What Went Wrong for the Brewers
Limited Opportunities
The Brewers’ offense struggled to reliably put runners on base or bring them in. They left six runners on base, two of whom were in scoring position in the second and fifth innings. Each squandered opportunity sapped momentum and increased pressure, a pattern that has followed them throughout the postseason.
Pitching Troubles
Freddy Peralta never found his groove. After giving up Happ’s three-run homer in the first, he labored with command and left before the end of the fourth inning. Manager Pat Murphy knew this could be a potential area of concern, highlighting in his pregame press conference, “With our starting pitching the way it is right now with — we’re limping in with the starting pitching. It hasn’t been our strong point.” The Brewers’ bullpen did well until Robert Gasser gave up five hits and two home runs in two innings. However, the early deficit forced them to employ key relievers in a game they were already losing.
Top Of The Order Turmoil
Christian Yelich, William Contreras, and Jackson Chourio, the Brewers’ power hitters, were mostly silent, combining for only one hit. Without the danger of the deep ball, the Brewers were unable to regain momentum.
Quick Hits
This marks the Cubs’ second multi-home run game of the series.
The Cubs even the series at 2-2, setting up a winner-take-all Game Five in Milwaukee, where the winner will take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.
Nico Hoerner went 3-for-5, continuing his impressive postseason run.
The Brewers were shut out for the first time this postseason and the first time in seven games.
Attendance at Wrigley Field was a sold-out 40,731, with the energy feeding off the first-inning fireworks.
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Looking Ahead
With everything on the line, the series now returns to Milwaukee for Game Five on Saturday with first pitch being set for 7:08 Central. The Cubs will seek to continue their comeback, become only the 11th team in history to overcome an 0-2 deficit, and advance to their first NLCS since 2017, while the Brewers hope to return to the Championship Series for the first time since 2018. Both teams will reveal their starting pitchers later.
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