Chicago Cubs take finale against Brewers, inch closer to division title

Ben Zobrist homered late, giving left-hander Jose Quintana some insurance as the Chicago Cubs took down the Milwaukee Brewers Sunday at Miller Park.

Left-hander Jose Quintana was the story on Sunday afternoon at Miller Park. The southpaw again showed why the Chicago Cubs landed him at the trade deadline, tossing a complete game shutout in a 5-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Chicago (86-68) could now clinch the National League Central as early as Tuesday in St. Louis. From the first pitch, Quintana dominated the Milwaukee bats, limiting them to three hits and striking out 10 in the win.

In the fourth, Kris Bryant doubled to score Jon Jay for the first run of the afternoon. The score remained 1-0 until the top of the seventh inning when Ben Zobrist dug in with a man on. The switch-hitting veteran clubbed a long home run down the right-field line to add some insurance for Quintana.

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One inning later, Chicago tacked on two more runs. A struggling Anthony Rizzo came through with a two-run double, blowing things open.

Quintana allowed just three singles – and over his last five starts, he has 40 strikeouts to just four base-on-balls. Offensively, Jay, Bryant, Zobrist and Willson Contreras all recorded multiple hits to back their lefty stud.

No one seemed sure that Joe Maddon would send Quintana back to the mound in the ninth. He had already eclipsed the century-mark in pitches, but he stepped up and delivered. After the first three games of the series went extras, he picked up a weary bullpen and gave them the day off.

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What’s Next

Chicago heads south to St. Louis, hoping to clinch back-to-back NL Central titles in a series against the rival Cardinals.

Jon Lester takes the ball opposite young right-hander Luke Weaver. First pitch is at 7:15 p.m. CT.