Brewers rout Cubs, will seek NLCS berth at Wrigley

MILWAUKEE. — With a night of offensive power and impeccable strategy, the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Chicago Cubs 7-3 in Game 2 of the National League Division Series (NLDS), putting themselves one win away from advancing to the Championship Series (NLCS).

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Despite facing limitations in their starting pitcher rotation, Milwaukee managed to impose their pitching plan thanks to the combination of tactical discipline and hitting power. After a shaky start by the left-hander Aaron Ashby, the home team reacted quickly with power and determination. Andrew Vaughn’s three-run homer in the first inning erased the early lead that Seiya Suzuki had given the Cubs. Then, Venezuelan William Contreras broke the tie with a solo home run in the third inning, and his compatriot Jackson Chourio sealed the victory with a three-run blast in the fourth, backing a standout relief performance by rookie Jacob Misiorowski. With this result, the Brewers took a 2-0 series lead in the best-of-five, a historically decisive margin: teams that have been in this position have advanced in 88.9% of cases (80 of 90 series). Under the current format (2-2-1), teams that win the first two home games have qualified 91.2% of the time (31 of 34). Manager Pat Murphy highlighted his team’s unusual display of power:

“Home runs are hit, not manufactured. Sometimes we have to win in other ways, but today we found the way. You don’t see that from the Brewers very often,” he commented with a laugh.

Milwaukee’s offensive explosion was as special as it was improbable: before this game, the franchise had never hit a home run with more than one runner on base in 55 postseason games. On this occasion, they did it twice in just four innings. Chourio‘s hit also had a historical nuance: his connection against a 101.4 mph fastball from Daniel Palencia was the fastest pitch converted into a home run in postseason history since pitches have been recorded (2008). The young Misiorowski, for his part, dazzled with an impressive performance in his playoff debut: he threw nine crucial outs, using 57 pitches, of which 31 exceeded 100 mph. “There are probably less than five people on the planet who can do what he did tonight”, declared Quinn Priester, who will open Game 3 at Wrigley Field. The Brewers’ game plan — based on a strategic use of the bullpen — was executed with surgical precision. Even Priester participated in a psychological maneuver to confuse the opponent, simulating that he would be the starting pitcher of the night, in a resource that the pitcher himself described as “one more way to help the team win, even if it’s one percent.” With this victory, Milwaukee travels to Chicago with the opportunity to seal the series and secure their return to the National League Championship Series.