UPDATE: The Milwaukee Brewers have triumphed over the Chicago Cubs with a decisive 3-1 victory in Game 5 of their NL Division Series, marking their first trip to the National League Championship Series (NLCS) since 2018. This thrilling win, achieved on October 7, 2023, revitalizes the Brewers’ postseason hopes after years of playoff frustration.
The Brewers’ victory came alive in the fourth inning when Andrew Vaughn smashed a tiebreaking home run, propelling Milwaukee ahead. Following suit, William Contreras and Brice Turang also added homers, solidifying the team’s lead. Fans in Milwaukee erupted as the Brewers clinched their first postseason series win since sweeping the Colorado Rockies in the 2018 NLDS.
This win is especially significant for Milwaukee fans, as it came against their historic rival, the Cubs, and marked the end of the Cubs’ season under manager Craig Counsell, who previously held the title of the Brewers’ winningest manager. The tension was palpable in the stadium, as the sellout crowd echoed with boos every time Counsell’s name was mentioned, reflecting the emotional stakes of the rivalry.
In this winner-takes-all showdown, all runs were generated via home runs, with each coming with two outs. Contreras kicked off the scoring with a 389-foot shot to left-center in the first inning, quickly followed by Vaughn’s pivotal homer that broke a 1-1 tie. Turang sealed the game with a 416-foot blast to center in the seventh inning, ensuring the Brewers would advance.
On the pitching front, the Brewers utilized a strategic all-hands-on-deck approach, as Trevor Megill, Jacob Misiorowski, Aaron Ashby, Chad Patrick, and Abner Uribe combined for a stellar performance, limiting the Cubs to just four hits. Misiorowski, who pitched four innings, earned his second win of the series, effectively shutting down the Cubs after conceding only one run from Seiya Suzuki‘s homer.
The Cubs initially pushed hard to force a Game 5 by winning two straight at Wrigley Field. They aimed to be the 11th team in history to come back from a 2-0 deficit in a five-game series, a feat last accomplished by the New York Yankees in 2017. However, the Brewers’ defense prevailed under pressure, especially when the Cubs threatened in the sixth inning with two runners on base. Ashby and Patrick held their ground, striking out key hitters to maintain the lead.
The Brewers are set to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS, with Game 1 scheduled for Monday in Milwaukee. The Dodgers, fresh off a victory against the Philadelphia Phillies, are currently favored to win the series at minus-210 odds according to ESPN BET Sportsbook. The anticipation builds as fans await what promises to be an electrifying matchup.
This victory not only signifies a new chapter for the Brewers but also highlights the emotional investment of their fanbase, eager to see their team pursue a championship run after a long playoff drought. The excitement in Milwaukee is palpable as they prepare for the next stage of this thrilling postseason journey.