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.
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A few hours later, though, the Giants did the Cubs a solid and beat the Cardinals at AT&T Park (SF 6, STL 2) thanks to Johnny Cueto’s complete game.
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. But there was a loud cheer in the Wrigleyville neighborhood when the West Coast game concluded, and several people honked their auto horns. Leury Garcia pinch ran and stole second and scored on Sanchez’s single to right center off Bryan Shaw (2-5). The Cubs’ magic number remained at one, though they could win the divisional crown later in the night should the Cardinals lose.
Things got very interesting in the bottom of the eighth as Chicago trimmed the lead to one run and had a chance for more damage.
Hector Santiago (12-8) got the win, holding the Tigers to one run in 5 2/3 innings. As Joe Sheehan wrote today, 100-win teams have struggled in the playoffs, post-1994, and in that same span, only two teams that were the first to clinch went on to win the World Series. 1989: Lost NLCS to Giants in five games. Happ (19-4) conceded two runs (one earned) and just three hits in six-plus innings, walked three and struck out three.
BLUE JAYS 7, ANGELS 2: Josh Donaldson went 3-for-3 with two doubles and scored two runs in his return to the lineup, Russell Martin hit a three-run homer and Toronto beat Los Angeles.
Cardinals first base Brandon Moss tipped his cap to Lester (17-4), who allowed four base runners, none of whom got past first.
Baltimore took two of three in the series to pull a game ahead of slumping Toronto for the top AL wild card.
None of that mattered as the Brewers showed considerable pluck, ignoring the din created by the sellout crowd of 41,363 every time there was a big moment in the game.
Now the Cubs focus turns to the best record in the National League so the team can have home field advantage should they make the League Championship Series.
Mike Pelfrey (4-10) lost in his first major league appearance since July 31. Gennett, batting for Jimmy Nelson (8-14), blooped an 0-2 curveball into the corner in left for a 5-3 Milwaukee lead.
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White Sox infielder Carlos Sanchez hit a blooper to right field for a walk-off single to give Chicago victory over the Indians. Their worst record against any club this season is 2-5 against the Mets.
