Pete Crow-Armstrong ripped a two-run single to highlight a four-run first inning, helping the host Chicago Cubs stave off elimination with a 4-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday in Game 3 of their National League Division Series.
The Cubs trail 2-1 in the best-of-five series. Game 4 is Thursday in Chicago.
“This has been a really resilient team all year,” Crow-Armstrong said in a postgame TNT Sports interview. “We know we just have more ball to play at Wrigley Field. And hopefully we can finish the job in Milwaukee.”
Michael Busch homered to lead off the first inning for the second time in this series, becoming the first player in major league history to accomplish the feat, per MLB.com. He also went deep in the Cubs’ 9-3 loss to the Brewers in Game 1 on Saturday.
“He’s incredible. We’ve been watching it all year long,” Cubs reliever Brad Keller said of Busch via Marquee Sports Network. “He keeps setting the tone every single game, including the playoffs too. It’s just so fun to watch.”
Ian Happ scored on a wild pitch, and Nico Hoerner and Kyle Tucker each had two of Chicago’s eight hits.
Drew Pomeranz (1-0) struck out two batters while retiring the side in order in the fifth inning.
Jake Bauers had an RBI single in the fourth inning and an opposite-field homer to lead off the seventh to trim Chicago’s lead to 4-3.
Brad Keller struck out Bauers with the bases loaded to end the eighth inning. He then retired the side in the ninth inning to secure his second save of the playoffs.
Sal Frelick’s sacrifice fly plated Christian Yelich in the top of the first before the Cubs responded with a flourish in their half of the inning.
Busch deposited a 3-2 fastball from Quinn Priester (0-1) over the wall in right-center field to forge a 1-1 tie. The homer was Busch’s team-leading third of the postseason.
The Cubs quickly loaded the bases before Crow-Armstrong’s single to right field plated both Hoerner and Tucker and chased Priester from the game.
“Huge. Huge hit and a huge time. Very clutch,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said of Crow-Armstrong’s hit. “That’s what had to happen for us. We had to get that big two-out hit, and didn’t get it.”
Nick Mears relieved Priester and promptly uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Happ to score and extend Chicago’s lead to 4-1.
Bauers trimmed his team’s deficit with an RBI single in the fourth before Caleb Durbin was tagged out in a rundown at home plate on a Brandon Lockridge bunt. Joey Ortiz grounded out to end the inning, stranding two in scoring position.
Priester permitted four runs on three hits with two walks in two-thirds of an inning.
–Field Level Media
