Busch makes history as Cubs stay alive in NLDS |
Dustin Riese
· · 4 hours ago
CHICAGO - The Chicago Cubs accomplished something on Wednesday that they haven't be able to do in their previous 12 playoff games. They scored more than three runs in a postseason game, and it couldn't have come at a better time.
Looking to fend off elimination against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Cubs returned to Wrigley Field on Wednesday with a shot to keep their season alive for one more day. Coming into the game on the wrong side of history by scoring three runs or less in 12 straight playoff games, the Cubs put an end to that streak in a hurry, scoring four times in the bottom of the first to break things open before failing to score the rest of the way. Fortunately for them, those runs would be all the offense the Cubs would need as the Cubs held on for the 4-3 game three victory to extend the series to a game four. In desperate need of a great start, the Cubs turned to their hottest pitcher, Jameson Taillon, looking to build off an impressive Wild Card outing last week. Of all the pitchers to turn to in an elimination game, Taillon could be the guy, as he showed up in the biggest way possible against the Padres and was at it again against the Brewers, allowing two runs in four innings before yielding to a taxed bullpen. As good as Taillon was, things didn't start well for the right-hander as Christian Yelich led off the game with a double, setting the Brewers' offense up for a great scoring opportunity. Following a Brice Turang walk to put a pair of runners on, it was William Contreras popping up for what looked to be an infield fly. Instead, neither Nico Hoerner nor Michael Busch was in position to make the play, resulting in an infield single to load the bases with one down. Those are the kind of mistakes you can't make against this team, and with Sal Frelick picking up a sacrifice fly shortly after, it was the Brewers taking an early 1-0 lead. With Quinn Priester on the mound, trailing the Brewers is never a spot you want to be in, but if there were a silver lining, it would be that the team that scores first in this series has lost both games. It looked as if that trend would continue in the bottom of the first as Michael Busch squared up for another leadoff homer, and just like that, this was a 1-1 game. For Busch, that was a historic blast as he became the first player in MLB history to have two leadoff homers against the same team in the same postseason series. Chicago continued to keep the pressure on Priester later in the first with Hoerner tacking on a single immediately after that homer, while Kyle Tucker and Ian Happ worked a pair of walks to load the bases for the Cubs. Priester came close to holding the Cubs at a run, but it was Pete Crow-Armstrong coming through with another big hit as his RBI single put the Cubs on top for good, 3-1. Chicago added an additional run later in the inning off a wild pitch to open up a 4-1 lead, but as has been the case throughout the series, that was it for their offense as the pressure was going to fall right back on this pitching staff. Still leading by that score in the third, it was the Cubs setting themselves up for a massive opportunity as a leadoff Seiya Suzuki double, followed by a Happ walk, put a pair of runners on with no outs. Chicago was unable to cash in on that scoring chance as the Brewers continued to work their magic to keep things close. At some point, you had to know the missed opportunities by this team were going to come back to bite the Cubs in the butt, and you started to see that at the top of the fourth as a pair of one-out singles from Frelick and Caleb Durbin gave the Brewers life. Jake Bauers kept the line moving with a third straight single as the Brewers pulled within 4-2 as Taillon saw his day come to an end following that inning. Bauers was just getting warmed up as he led the top of the seventh off with a solo blast against Andrew Kittredge to pull Milwaukee within a run. Given what was unraveling in front of the fans' faces, the Cubs needed some insurance runs in the worst way possible, and with Hoerner and Tucker delivering a pair of one-out singles in the bottom of the seventh, this was their opportunity to strike as the Brewers went back to their pen to call on Chad Patrick. Patrick did his best to finish off the Cubs in the seventh as once again the pressure fell on Kittredge and the Cubs' pen. As if a one-run lead didn't bring enough drama to the table, why not have Jackson Chourio lead things off in the eighth with a double as the tying run was standing at second and one down. That forced a call to the bullpen once again as Caleb Thielbar was summoned to take over, walking Contreras to put two on before narrowly missing an inning-ending double play to keep the Brewers' hopes alive. Once again, Counsell continued to play the matchup game as Thielbar faced the hitters he needed to face before handing things off to Brad Keller. Keller continued to make things difficult for the Cubs as he walked the first hitter he faced to load the bases, bringing Bauers to the plate with the bases loaded. Fortunately for the Cubs, Keller won the battle in this one as he struck out Bauers to end the inning, leaving the bases loaded before closing things out in the ninth with a perfect frame. The Cubs secured a 4-3 victory to force a game four on Thursday. Keller š¤ Nico "Leave it to Michael Busch to get it going for us ... He's been our best player all year." "We live to fight another day." Craig Counsell described Jameson Taillon as "the calm in the storm". "I'm gonna tell our guys it's the first inning every inning." ā ļø CAUTION: Wrigley Fieldās decibel readings are so high, you could be at risk of hearing loss š¤Æ pic.twitter.com/ECTTsawMCG Brad Keller is only the 4th Cub with multiple saves in a postseason š® pic.twitter.com/gE8xR1zzeA
Ballgame. pic.twitter.com/CJDOm0TJd3
PCA on Michael Busch's leadoff blast š„ pic.twitter.com/yn2AMjhn4w
Brad Keller after his 4-out save in NLDS Game 3 š¤ pic.twitter.com/UsRR0fAwRP
Taillon has started two elimination games this #Postseason pic.twitter.com/WRKxxoAeJk
The Cubs have scored 8 runs in the first inning this series, and 2 runs outside of that. pic.twitter.com/kFBbxtsnTw
