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Cubs-Brewers-Game: Chicago Avoids Sweep in High-Stakes NLDS Thriller Chicago, Illinois – The Chicago Cubs fought off elimination in the National League Division Series (NLDS) against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night, securing a tense 4-3 victory in Game 3 at Wrigley Field. The win narrows Milwaukee’s series lead to 2-1, ensuring the best-of-five contest returns for a crucial Game 4 on Thursday, with the Cubs attempting to stage a historic comeback. The fixture, marked by the fervent atmosphere typical of this regional rivalry, was decided early in a dramatic first inning that saw both teams score, ultimately establishing a narrow margin that held through a gripping late-game bullpen duel. The Cubs' crucial four-run opening frame not only handed them their first win of the series but also broke a long-standing, worrying trend, giving the team renewed momentum as they attempt to overcome the team that claimed the National League Central title and the best regular season record. Historic Start Defines Early Lead The narrative of Game 3 was dictated almost entirely by an explosive opening inning. The Brewers initially seized the lead on a peculiar play: a high pop-up by William Contreras was lost in the sun by Cubs first baseman Michael Busch, dropping for a single that loaded the bases and led to an immediate sacrifice fly. However, the Cubs responded instantly in the bottom half of the inning with a historic strike. Michael Busch, quickly shaking off the fielding error, launched a full-count cutter for a solo home run to right-centre field. This blast cemented his name in the record books as the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit multiple leadoff home runs in a single postseason series, having achieved the same feat in Game 1. The inning continued to unravel for Brewers starter Quinn Priester, who was making his first career postseason appearance at the ballpark he grew up frequenting. Following a single and two walks, the bases were loaded for Pete Crow-Armstrong, who delivered the decisive blow: a line-drive, two-run single that chased Priester from the game after recording just two outs.
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The rapid shift of momentum saw the Cubs lead 4-1, providing a necessary, albeit slender, cushion for the remainder of the contest. Priester later described the outing as "very frustrating," citing issues with command and execution. Milwaukee Bullpen Stalls Rally Attempts Following Priester’s premature exit, the Brewers’ highly-regarded bullpen managed to stabilise the game, allowing Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy to deploy his relief staff effectively over the subsequent seven innings. The Brewers' offence, however, slowly chipped away at the deficit. Veteran pitcher Jameson Taillon delivered a vital four-inning start for the Cubs, limiting the damage despite surrendering a run-scoring single to Jake Bauers in the fourth inning. Bauers was instrumental in the Brewers’ attempt to claw back, hitting a leadoff solo home run in the seventh inning to pull the score within a single run at 4-3. The tension reached its peak in the eighth inning when Milwaukee loaded the bases against Cubs reliever Brad Keller. Keller, however, managed to escape the jam by striking out Bauers on a 97 mph fastball, a pivotal moment that preserved Chicago's narrow advantage. Bauers conceded the pitch was superior: “He’s got a great fastball. He got it by me. ” The Cubs bullpen, after struggling earlier in the series, excelled in Game 3, combining to allow only one run over the final five innings to secure the critical win.
Context and Managerial Rivalry The victory holds profound significance for Chicago, who had dropped the first two games in Milwaukee with a combined offensive effort of just six runs. Furthermore, the four-run outburst broke an embarrassing eight-year, 13-game streak in which the Cubs had failed to score more than three runs in a postseason game. This inability to generate sustained offence had been a key point of critique following their Game 1 (9-3 loss) and Game 2 (7-3 loss) defeats. The series is heavily layered with the dynamic of Cubs manager Craig Counsell facing his former team. Counsell, the winningest manager in Brewers history, defected to the rival Cubs last winter, fueling the intensity of the NLDS. He has attempted to simplify the task for his team, who face daunting odds; historically, teams trailing 2-0 in a best-of-five series advance only 10% of the time. Following the win, Counsell focused on maintaining the offensive aggression that marked the first inning: “I’m going to tell our guys it’s the first inning every inning tomorrow. I think that’s our best formula right now offensively. ” Brewers manager Pat Murphy, while disappointed by the loss, pointed to the missed opportunities in critical moments, particularly in the eighth inning. “Oftentimes when you see close games, you look at the runners in scoring position and how successful you were,” Murphy said. “Yeah, we didn’t get the big hit.
We did hit some balls hard, but credit to them and what they did in the first inning to do just enough to win. ” Outlook: Pitching Deployment Key for Game 4 With the series momentum partially reclaimed by the Cubs, the focus now shifts entirely to Game 4 on Thursday night in Chicago. The Brewers, holding the 2-1 advantage, possess a tactical decision on pitching deployment. While their bullpen proved resilient in Game 3, there is speculation over whether manager Pat Murphy will opt to bring back ace Freddy Peralta on short rest to close out the series, or rely on another bullpen-heavy approach to save Peralta for a potential NL Championship Series start. For the Cubs, the challenge remains immense: they must win Game 4 to force a decisive Game 5 back in Milwaukee. The successful offensive breakout in Game 3 provides a template, but maintaining that output against Milwaukee's deep pitching staff will be the true test of their playoff resolve. The outcome of the next cubs-brewers-game will either send Milwaukee to the NLCS for the first time since 2018 or push this intense NL Central battle to its limit. This analysis of the Cubs-Brewers Game 1 loss provides further context on the series' initial dynamic. REKAP ⚾️ Cubs 9-3 Loss to the Brewers - Decision to start Boyd was not a good one, Cubs get pounded!.
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