CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-2 in 10 innings on Wednesday night. Here's a quick look at the game.
How it happened: Miguel Montero homered to lead off the 10th inning after Hector Rondon threw two wild pitches and Addison Russell made an error in the ninth inning allowing the Brewers to tie the game. Milwaukee took a 1-0 lead on Ryan Braun's 20th home run of the season in the first inning but the Cubs tied it in the second when Kris Bryant homered to right for his 16th of the year. The Cubs took the lead in the fifth as Russell brought home Montero with a base hit after Jason Hammel's sacrifice moved Montero to second. Hammel lasted 5⅔ innings, giving up four hits and a walk while striking out five.
What it means: The Cubs keep rolling, though they needed a little late-inning magic after nearly giving the game away. When you go 12-1 over your past 13 games they aren't all going to be pretty. Despite a ninth-inning strikeout, Bryant has come alive in August, earning a hit in his ninth straight game while his on-base percentage is over .450 this month. He's trending toward being the favorite for rookie of the year as he's second in the National League in home runs among first-year players and first in RBIs. Montero had a tough time with Rondon's wild pitches but made up for it all with his 11th home run of the season. The Cubs extended their playoff lead on San Francisco to 4½ games.
Hammel pulled again: For the second consecutive start Hammel was pulled early, after throwing just 65 pitches in 5⅔ innings. The tying run was on second with the dangerous Adam Lind at the plate but the move was almost as surprising as the last time Joe Maddon did it to Hammel -- last Thursday against the San Francisco Giants. Lefty Clayton Richard came in to get Lind and pitch a perfect seventh inning.
Rizzo web gem: Anthony Rizzo made the play of the game, and maybe the year, for the Cubs when he ranged into the stands to make a catch of a foul ball off the bat of Braun in the sixth inning. Rizzo jumped onto the tarp near the Brewers' bullpen then onto the cement railing before catching the ball as he entered the stands. Since he was out of play, and threw the ball back into the playing area, the runner on first base, Jonathan Lucroy, was awarded second base, where he was left stranded.
La Stella in September: Before the game Cubs president Theo Epstein told reporters infielder Tommy La Stella will definitely be on the Cubs' roster in September, if not earlier. Epstein said the team almost activated him from the disabled list to play in the big leagues now but decided he needed everyday at-bats in the minors. La Stella has missed all but two games this year with an oblique injury.
What's next: The series finale takes place on Thursday afternoon when Jon Lester (7-8, 3.22) takes on Tyler Cravy (0-3, 5.40).
