Brewers vs Cubs Game : The Chicago Cubs forced a decisive Game 5 in the National League Division Series with a dominant 6-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, while the Los Angeles Dodgers advanced to the National League Championship Series after a dramatic 2-1 extra-innings win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Cubs’ Redemption Arc
The Cubs’ triumph at Wrigley Field was spearheaded by pitcher Matthew Boyd, who delivered a redemption performance after a poor outing in Game 1. Working into the fifth inning, Boyd allowed just two hits and struck out six, setting the stage for Chicago’s bullpen to complete the shutout. The offensive explosion began early when Ian Happ launched a three-run homer in the first inning off Brewers ace
Freddy Peralta, continuing Chicago’s trend of scoring in the opening frame throughout the series. Kyle Tucker and Michael Busch added solo home runs, providing crucial insurance runs. The Cubs, who were on the brink of elimination after losing the first two games in Milwaukee, have now won three consecutive elimination games, showcasing remarkable resilience. This comeback attempt mirrors their historic 2016 World Series run, where they also overcame a 2-0 deficit.
Dodgers’ Dramatic Walk-Off
The Dodgers’ path to the NLCS was far more dramatic. In a tense pitcher’s duel that remained scoreless for six innings, Tyler Glasnow and Cristopher Sánchez traded zeroes before the bullpens took over. The Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the seventh on Nick Castellanos’ RBI double, but the Dodgers tied it in the bottom half when Jhoan Duran walked Mookie Betts with the bases loaded. The game remained
deadlocked until the bottom of the 11th, when a series of events culminated in a stunning error. With the bases loaded and two outs, rookie Andy Pages hit a routine comebacker to Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering. Instead of throwing to first base, Kerkering panicked and made a wild throw past catcher J.T. Realmuto, allowing pinch-runner Hyeseong Kim to score the winning run.
Road to the Championship
The Dodgers’ victory sets up a highly anticipated NLCS matchup against the winner of the Cubs-Brewers series. As heavy favorites, Los Angeles will look to leverage their deep roster and home-field advantage at Dodger Stadium. The Cubs, meanwhile, must travel to Milwaukee for Game 5, where they will face the Brewers’ potent lineup and a hostile crowd. The winner of that series will have the monumental task of dethroning the Dodgers, who have proven their ability to thrive under pressure. Both series have showcased the unpredictable nature of October baseball, where a single pitch or play can alter the course of a franchise’s season.
