But Gennett’s clutch hit made the Cubs (93-53) wait for St. Louis’ 6-2 loss at San Francisco to wrap up the NL Central crown.
Advertisement
The Cubs will celebrate their division title after the conclusion of Friday afternoon’s game against the Brewers, manager Joe Maddon said. That strategy could make for an odd look to Friday’s lineup against Milwaukee’s Chase Anderson, who has had mixed results against the Cubs this season – defeating them at home with 8 2/3 innings of two-run ball on May 17 before being lifted after just 11 pitches when he was hit by Kris Bryant’s line drive on August 16 at Wrigley Field.
“We played a good ballgame”. Chicago is loaded top to bottom in their lineup and while Lackey isn’t a front end guy with the Cubs and serves more as a back of the rotation arm he is having a nice season and should be in a good position here to get the win. “We answered that energy and we used that energy for us”.
Milwaukee is 1-5 in their last six Friday games, 3-10 in their last 13 road starts from Anderson, and 0-4 in his last five starts on five days rest while the Cubs are 37-15 in their last 52 games overall, 9-4 in their last 13 during game two of a series, and 26-9 in their last 25 Friday games.
“That was pretty awesome”, Thornburg said.
“You know getting a win at Wrigley, especially considering the situation we are in, it just gives us confidence and we have to have fun with it”, Gennett said.
Justin Grimm (1-1) replaced Montgomery in the seventh and the Brewers put runners on first and third with one out.
Nelson won for only the second time in his last 11 starts as Milwaukee (66-81) improved to 4-4 on an 11-game trip.
Early on, it looked like the Cubs would be able to get a party going and, when it would be time to party, party hard Thursday night.
Dexter Fowler struck out, Kris Bryant grounded out and after Rizzo walked, Ben Zobrist grounded out to end the game.
The Cubs couldn’t mount a late comeback, though, despite Jason Heyward’s two-out RBI double off Brewers right-hander Tyler Thornburg in the eighth.
Jorge Soler smashed a two-run home run in the second inning, pausing a bit to admire his work as the ball whistled into the left field bleachers.
Brewers center fielder Keon Broxton homered off Montgomery to lead off the fourth, cutting the Cubs lead in half with his ninth of the season.
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.
Advertisement
Heyward doubled in the fourth and scored on Montgomery’s first Cubs hit – a two-out single up the middle that tied the score at 3-3.
