The Milwaukee Brewers just pulled off a wild 9-5 win over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night, and honestly, if you only saw the box score for ace Jacob Misiorowski, you would be scratching your head. This was supposed to be a playoff preview, but nobody expected their Cy Young favorite to get absolutely rocked for five earned runs in just four innings at Wrigley Field.
Misiorowski’s Toughest Test Yet
Talk about uncharacteristic! Misiorowski, whose ERA is still sitting pretty under 2.00 at a ridiculous 1.97, had his worst outing of the entire 2026 campaign. He was chased after only 12 outs, having thrown 92 pitches, giving up five hits and walking four batters. It was a struggle for control against that potent Cubs lineup. Alex Bregman was an absolute menace, hitting his fourth homer of the series with a two-run shot in the first inning. He then piled on two more RBI with a two-run single in the second, giving the Cubs a 5-3 lead. This was the only other game all season Misiorowski failed to get out of the fifth inning, and he had never, not once, given up more than three earned runs in a single game before this one. That’s a gut punch for any ace.
The Bats Said “Not Tonight”
But here’s where it gets wild. While Misiorowski was taking his lumps, the Brewers’ bats absolutely refused to let him take the loss. They went to work on Cubs starter David Peterson, who lasted just 3 2/3 innings. Milwaukee peppered him for seven hits and six runs, including a solo bomb from Jackson Chourio. The real magic happened in the fourth inning though. They plated three runs with some textbook small ball: a walk, a double, a bunt, a single, and another single. Five straight at-bats, three runs on the board. Just like that, Misiorowski left the game with a 6-5 lead intact. Nico Hoerner even made a sensational diving two-out catch in shallow left in the fifth to keep things close, but the damage was done. The Brewers’ six runs were already enough for the win, no late-inning insurance needed.
What This Means for the Best Record in Baseball
This 9-5 victory pushed the Brewers to an incredible 86-53, solidifying their MLB-best record. They now lead the Cubs by nine games in the NL Central with just 22 games left in the regular season. The Cubs, at 78-62, are still comfortable in an NL wild-card spot, but catching Milwaukee looks like a long shot now. This kind of comeback win is exactly what the Brewers are going to need when the postseason begins. Everyone knows their pitching staff boasts the best ERA in the National League, but nights like this prove their potent bats can carry the load too. They’re up 2-1 in this four-game series. You know the Cubs are going to come out hungry for game four to try and split it. This series is far from over, and it’s going to be a battle worth watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply