Cubs Recap: Chicago finishes off Milwaukee 3-1 as Rizzo eclipses 100 RBI

Cubs end regular season with sweep

For the first time in his big league career, Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo reached 100+ runs batted in during the 3-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers, completing the three-game sweep to end their regular season.

Rizzo, 26, passed up rookie slugger Kris Bryant who ended the campaign stuck on 99 despite having multiple opportunities over the weekend. Bryant was in the batter’s box with two runners on and no outs but worked a six-pitch walk to load them up for Rizzo.

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Milwaukee’s (68-94) starter, Jorge Lopez (1-1, 5.40 ERA), struggled with his command early on as he opened up the game by tagging Austin Jackson with a pitch inside on the hands.

He followed that up with a walk to Chris Coghlan after Jackson swiped his 17th stolen base of the season.

Anthony fell behind in the count 1-2 early on but turned on a 94 miles per hour fastball and drove it out into right field, driving in both Jackson and Coghlan to give Dan Haren an early 2-0 lead.

Haren (11-9, 3.60) started off his run with the Chicago Cubs (97-65) on a sour note until buckling down in the final month of the season and continued to pitch well today in Milwaukee.

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The 35-year-old held the Brewers to one earned run on three hits while issuing one walk and recording three strikeouts across six innings of work prior to Justin Grimm entering the game.

With the Cubs leading 3-0 in the home half of the third inning, Shane Peterson recorded an RBI ground-rule double to left field, driving in Scooter Gennett to cut the lead down to just two.

Veteran southpaw Travis Wood entered the ninth inning with the chance of picking up his fourth save of the season and pulled through with some help from his hot corner man.

Pinch-hitter Michael Reed would be called upon to at least get on base to keep his team in the ballgame, but he would pop out in foul territory to Rizzo who made the play next to Milwaukee’s dugout.

Just moments later, Bryant made one of his best defensive plays of the year when fielding a ground ball hit by Adam Lind and making a leaping throw to first base for the second out.

Wood slammed the door on the Brew Crew by striking out Khris Davis.

Now it’s time to get ready for the postseason as Jake Arrieta takes on Gerrit Cole and the Pittsburgh Pirates this Wednesday on TBS.

Let’s go!

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