Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (6/28/26): Cubs 4, Brewers 3 F/10 – Improbable Win Steals Series
The Cubs and Brewers battled in the deciding game of their series at American Family Field on Sunday afternoon. It was a largely uneventful contest, with just two runs combined through the first nine innings. That changed dramatically in the 10th inning, as the road team somehow escaped with a victory in a frame where both squads had the bases loaded and five runs scored.
Injuries forced Chicago to employ a bullpen strategy, and Gary Sánchez hit a solo home run off of Ryan Rolison that gave Milwaukee a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Another new acquisition, Bryse Wilson, took over after that and kept the home side from adding any more in 4.1 frames.
The North Siders could not figure out opposing starter Brandon Woodruff, but they put together a rally to tie the game in the 7th. A walk and a single against reliever Aaron Ashby put runners on the corners, and then a wild pitch brought home Ian Happ to even things.
The game went to extra innings and Brewers’ reliever Joel Kuhnel had big trouble in the 10th, loading the bases with two outs. Michael Busch coaxed a walk to force in the go-ahead run, then Seiya Suzuki singled in two more to give the Cubs a 4-1 advantage.
Ethan Roberts came in to attempt to close out the game in the bottom of the frame and ran into major trouble, surrendering an RBI single to Christian Yelich before exiting with the bases loaded and nobody out. Chicago had no more options and had to use the newly recalled Jordan Wicks in the very sticky situation.
It was an inauspicious beginning for Wicks as he walked Garrett Mitchell to bring in a run that got Milwaukee to within 4-3. At that point, the bespectacled lefty pulled off an amazing Houdini job by getting Jake Bauers to pop out and Sánchez to roll into a double play to end the game and give the North Siders a highly improbable win. (Box score)
Key Moment
Bauers’ inability to get a run home when he popped out gave the Cubs the opportunity to get a double play with the extremely slow Sánchez at the plate.
Why the Cubs Won
An amazing job by the much-maligned bullpen kept Milwaukee down most of the day.
Stats That Matter
- Wilson may have earned himself a start with his terrific afternoon: 4.1 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 4 K, and 0 BB.
- Nico Hoerner had a pair of singles.
- Pete Crow-Armstrong drew three walks on the day.
Bottom Line
Winning this series was unexpected and a tremendous accomplishment for the Cubs. The Brewers had a massive pitching advantage in every matchup this weekend, and somehow, someway, Chicago stole two of three. Despite all of the injuries, this team is not going away.
On Deck
The Cubs return to Wrigley Field to take on the Padres starting Monday at 7:05pm CT. Shōta Imanaga takes the mound in a game televised on Marquee with a radio feed on The Score.
