Chicago Cubs fall to Milwaukee 5-4; Await Cardinals final

The Chicago Cubs comeback fell short as they lost to the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-4. The Cubs will now have to wait for the Cardinals final from San Francisco.

The Chicago Cubs (93-53) left the tying run on third in the eighth as they fell to the Milwaukee Brewers (66-81) on Thursday night. They now will await the final of the Cardinals/Giants game. A Cardinals loss would give them the division title.

The Cubs got another solid outing from Mike Montgomery who didn’t figure in the decision. He allowed just one earned run (three total) over six innings of work. Addison Russell was uncharacteristically wild, committing two throwing errors, one that led to two unearned runs scoring.

Jorge Soler got the Cubs on the board early with a rocket shot home run to left field to give them a 2-0 lead. The Brewers would tie it up in the fourth as they got a solo home run from Keon Broxton, followed by an Orlando Arcia RBI double.

Montgomery collects first hit

Montgomery would help himself out as he collected his first career hit and RBI with a single to tie the game at 3-3 in the bottom half of the fourth. Justin Grimm (1-1, 3.78) had been sharp as of late but struggled tonight. He lasted just 2/3 of an inning, allowing a two-run pinch-hit double to Scooter Gennett in the top half of the seventh.

Brewers’ skipper Craig Counsell went to his closer early and it almost backfired. Tyler Thornburg allowed a RBI double to Jason Heyward, then allowed him to advance to third after a pitch got away. After a Miguel Montero walk, he struck out pinch-hitter Willson Contreras to escape the jam.

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Jimmy Nelson (8-14, 4.42) picked up his first win against the Cubs in his career.

The Cubs now turn their attention to the game in San Francisco. They would clinch the division with a Cardinals loss.