Chicago Clouts the Cream City Crew: Cubs Bash Brewers to Tighten NL Central Race

After dropping the first two games in Milwaukee, the Chicago Cubs clobbered the Brewers 10-3 on Wednesday to avoid the sweep and pull within a single game of first place in the NL Central.

Michael Busch wasted no time setting the tone, launching the game’s first pitch 388 feet into the right-field seats. The longball was his 21st of the season and the spark Chicago needed to get back in the win column. Moisés Ballesteros later cleared the bases with a three-run double in the third, part of a six-run eruption that left the Brewers stunned.

Cubs starter Shota Imanaga was lights-out on the mound, fanning eight over five solid innings and improving to 8-4. He allowed just five hits and didn’t issue a single walk. Offensively, Chicago kept the gas pedal down with contributions from up and down the order. Ian Happ went deep, Pete Crow-Armstrong tallied a three-hit game with two doubles, and Kyle Tucker added two RBIs to keep the Brew Crew guessing.

Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta saw his seven-game win streak go flat, giving up a season-high five runs in just four innings. William Contreras tried to keep the Brewers afloat with a pair of solo homers, his fifth career multi-homer game, but the Cubs’ early barrage was too much to overcome.

The North Siders added to their roster just hours after the final out, acquiring right-hander Mike Soroka from the Nationals and reliever Andrew Kittredge from the Orioles. Chicago continues to shore up its bullpen and depth as it gears up for a stretch run that includes a pivotal five-game series against Milwaukee in late August.

With the standings tighter than a full count in extra innings, the NL Central race is shaping up to be a pennant-chasing slugfest in the dog days of summer.