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Montero’s walk-off homer lifts Cubs past Brewers

The Chicago Cubs had to wait until Friday to celebrate their NL Central title, but they quickly made up for lost time.

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It was another rough day in a long season.

Miguel Montero led off the bottom of the 10th inning with a home run to give the Cubs a dramatic 5-4 win over the Brewers at Wrigley Field.

In just over two weeks their playoff odds have jumped from 25.9% on September 1 to 75.7% today.

Milwaukee Brewers’ Scooter Gennett watches his two-run double during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, in Chicago.

“It’s very disappointing”, Broxton said.

The Cubs planned to party Friday into the night, but get right back to the business of setting themselves up for the playoffs on Saturday.

Chicago clinched the National League Central on Thursday after it’s 5-4 loss to Milwaukee when St. Louis was beaten 6-2 at San Francisco.

Milwaukee grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Orlando Arcia first pitch home run deep into the left field bleachers for a 1-0 lead.

Chicago Cubs’ shortstop Addison Russell (No. 27) tags out St. Louis Cardinals’ center fielder Randal Grichuk as he attempts to steal second during the fifth inning at Busch Stadium Wednesday. “It worked out pretty good didn’t it?”

Chase Anderson pitched six solid innings for Milwaukee (66-82), allowing two runs and five hits. Starter James Shields allowed one run on three hits and three walks in six innings.

“It’s awful. When a guy makes a play like that behind you – he plays the game with such intensity – runs into the wall and breaks his wrist, it’s super unfortunate”, Anderson said. “My husband and I and my brother-in-law wanted to see it happen”, Cubs fan Meghan Halky said of her children.

Nearly out of habit, the Cubs gave their fans something to cheer about Friday. I got a free shot from him and just kept on cruising.

As we all know, the Cubs’ clinched the NL Central last night.

Brad Boxberger (4-1) got two outs for the win.

“I just need to find that comfort with the sinker in the strike zone, first pitch”, he said. “This is only the beginning”.

Brewers infielder Jonathan Villar was out of the starting lineup. Jacob Barnes, Brent Suter and Jhan Marińez all saw action, with the last of the trio getting pinch-hitter David Ross to bounce into an inning-ending double play. Broxton will miss the remainder of the season and Nieuwenhuis will be re-evaluated on Monday.

Cubs’ LF Jorge Soler departed after three innings due to tightness on his right side. “Congratulations to Joe Maddon, Theo Epstein, the Ricketts family, the players, and the entire Cubs organization on being the best team in baseball and the first team in either league to clinch their division”. It was unclear when the injury occurred.

“I’m a lot more excited to face Jake Arrieta than when the wind is blowing in”, Braun said.

The LA Dodgers won 2-0 at the Yankees, Washington beat the visiting Mets 1-0, San Francisco stumbled again, swept by struggling San Diego through a 3-1 home loss, Miami won 7-5 at Atlanta, Philadelphia won 6-2 at home to Pittsburgh, Milwaukee won 7-0 at Cincinatti, and Arizona beat visiting Colorado 11-6.

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PHILLIES 4, MARLINS 3 (13) Pinch-hitter Jimmy Paredes singled home the winning run with one out in the 13th inning to give host Philadelphia a victory over Miami.

Chicago Cubs starter Mike Montgomery delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday Sept. 15 2016 in Chicago