Wisdom Sets Cubs Rookie Record With 27th HR As Cubs Beat Brewers
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Patrick Wisdom set a Cubs rookie record with his 27th homer, hitting a three-run drive that capped a five-run comeback in the eighth inning and sent Chicago over the Milwaukee Brewers 6-4 on Sunday.
The Brewers' ninth-inning rally fell short and the magic number for wrapping up their first NL Central title since 2018 remained at three. Milwaukee clinched its fourth consecutive playoff berth Saturday.
Wisdom's drive to center off Jandel Gustave topped the 26 homers that Kris Bryant hit during his rookie season in 2015.
Milwaukee trailed 6-2 before nearly coming all the way back against Rowan Wick in the bottom of the ninth.
Christian Yelich singled home two runs with a two-out single. Omar Narváez singled and Luis Urías walked to load the bases. The Cubs brought in Michael Rucker, who retired Jace Peterson on a fly to center to earn his first career save.
The Brewers had beaten the Cubs 11 consecutive times, one off the franchise record for consecutive victories over one opponent. The Brewers won 12 straight from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2008.
Milwaukee seemed on its way to matching that record Sunday until the Cubs rallied from a 2-1 deficit in the eighth.
Pinch-hitter Willson Contreras started the rally with a 14-pitch plate appearance against Brad Boxberger (5-4) that resulted in a walk. Matt Duffy and Frank Schwindel followed that up by hitting consecutive first-pitch RBI doubles.
Gustave took over for Boxberger and promptly walked David Bote and allowed Wisdom's 430-foot shot.
The Cubs delivered their big rally after getting just two hits in the first seven innings.
Brewers starter Eric Lauer struck out six and allowed one run, one hit and three walks in 5 1/3 innings. He owns a 1.83 ERA over his last 13 appearances.
Lauer held the Cubs without a hit until Trayce Thompson sent an 0-2 pitch over the left-field wall with one out in the fifth to break a scoreless tie.
The homer was Thompson's first hit of any kind in the major leagues since June 14, 2018, when he was playing for the Chicago White Sox. It was his first MLB homer since May 3, 2018. He returned to the majors for the first time in over three years on Tuesday when the Cubs called him up from Triple-A Iowa.
Milwaukee took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth when Kolten Wong and Eduardo Escobar hit back-to-back RBI doubles off Adrian Sampson.
Adam Morgan (1-0) earned the win with one inning of shutout relief.
CUBS DESIGNATE MAPLES
The Cubs have designated RHP Dillon Maples for assignment. Maples, 29, went 1-0 with a 2.59 ERA in 28 relief appearances this season but walked 25 batters in 31 1/3 innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cubs: RHP Keegan Thompson (shoulder inflammation) and IF Nico Hoerner (right oblique strain) started Sunday's game after getting activated from the injured list. Hoerner batted fifth and started at shortstop. … OF Nick Martini was optioned to Triple-A Iowa.
Brewers: CF Lorenzo Cain was out of the lineup with what manager Craig Counsell described as "general body soreness" after diving against the wall to rob Willson Contreras of an extra-base hit in the Brewers' 6-4 victory Saturday. ... OF Avisaíl García remained out of the lineup as he deals with a back issue. García hasn't played since Tuesday. … SS Willy Adames, who went on the injured list Sept. 5 with a left quadriceps strain, is likely to return Monday. … Counsell said LHP Brett Anderson is healthy again. Anderson has been on the injured list since Sept. 2 with a shoulder bruise.
UP NEXT
The Cubs are off Monday before beginning a two-game home series with the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. Alec Mills (6-6, 4.50 ERA) will start for the Cubs and Griffin Jax (3-4, 6.65) pitches for the Twins on Tuesday.
The Brewers open a four-game home series with the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday. Scheduled starters are RHP Freddy Peralta (9-4, 2.69 ERA) for the Brewers and RHP Jake Woodford (2-3, 4.30) for the Cardinals.
(© Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
