MLB Update: Chicago Cubs Level NLDS Against Brewers with Game 4 Victory at Wrigley Field, Setting Up Decisive Game 5 in Milwaukee

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers again Thursday night at Wrigley Field to force a Game 5 in Milwaukee on Saturday.

The final score was 6-0 for the Cubs victory.

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The Cubs also defeated the Brewers Wednesday in a must-win Game 3 of the National League Division Series at Wrigley Field.

Michael Busch started leading off for the Chicago Cubs in July. The first baseman adjusted to his new position in the lineup by not adjusting at all.

“From the moment I was placed in that spot, they put me there, and I thought, ‘why change what I do?’ ” Busch said.

“From there, it’s just kind of one of those things where I just try to have my at-bat. Sometimes it goes well; sometimes it doesn’t.”

It’s working out quite well at the moment.

On Wednesday, Busch launched a leadoff home run as part of Chicago’s first-inning, four-run burst in Game 3 of the NL Division Series against the Brewers. The Cubs narrowly escaped a sweep by clinching a 4-3 triumph.

Prior to this, Chicago had managed three runs or fewer in their preceding 13 postseason contests, a streak dating back to a 9-8 win against Washington in Game 5 of the 2017 NL Division Series.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Busch, at 27, became the first major league player in history to hit multiple leadoff homers in one postseason series.

“He’s turned into the batter that teams strategize around, and that’s a testament to his abilities,” remarked Cubs manager Craig Counsell.

“It’s not easy to do, and he’s put us off to a great start a whole bunch of these games.”

During his second year with Chicago, Busch achieved personal bests with a .261 batting average, 34 home runs, and 90 RBIs across 155 games. Notably, five of his season homers were leadoff hits.

With the Cubs facing elimination, he drove a full-count cutter from Quinn Priester deep to right-center, tying the game at 1. It was his team-high third homer of the postseason.

“Busch in particular, he’s come into his own. This guy is – you’ve got to make pitches to him,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said.

It was a big moment for Busch after he lost William Contreras’ mile-high popup in the sun in the top half of the inning, setting up a sacrifice fly for Sal Frelick.

“Just tried to reset,” Busch said. “It’s a long game and there’s a lot of outs, and just tried to remind myself just to have a good at-bat.”

Busch also hit a leadoff shot against Freddy Peralta in Chicago’s 9-3 loss in Game 1 on Saturday. The Cubs scored three times in the first inning of Game 2, but the Brewers rallied for a 7-3 victory.

The matchup of NL Central rivals is the first postseason series in which both teams scored in the first inning in each of the first three games. Milwaukee has outscored Chicago 10-8 in the first so far.

After Busch went deep on Wednesday, the Cubs loaded the bases on a single and two walks. Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a tiebreaking two-run single with two out, and Ian Happ scored on a wild pitch from Nick Mears.

“I mean, the confidence we have in sending Buschy up there any at-bat, it’s obviously very high, but the confidence that I have when Michael Busch leads off a ballgame or an inning is through the roof,” Crow-Armstrong said, “and I think I’m just one of the lucky ones that gets to have watched his year so far.”