No matter what you thought the Cubs would do this year, you absolutely did not have the following on your Cubs Bingo card:
“Jordan Wicks is going to post his first save of the year against the Brewers, in Milwaukee, coming into the game in the 10th inning with the bases loaded and nobody out.”
Who writes these scripts, anyway?
And yet, that is exactly what happened in a tension-filled contest. The Cubs did win 4-3 in 10 innings, taking the series and an important game from their division rivals.
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Well. If you’ve settled down a bit from all the drama, let’s begin at the beginning.
With the Cubs rotation in shambles, this was scheduled to be a bullpen game. Ryan Rolison, who was the opener one other time this year, got those honors. And he got to two out in the second inning with no trouble, but… Craig Counsell might have left him in one batter too long. Gary Sanchez homered off Rolison with two out in the second to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead. Rolison finished off the inning without further incident.
The Cubs, as they had done in the other two games of this series, had trouble with the Brewers starter, Brandon Woodruff gave the Cubs just one hit and two walks into the sixth, the hit a double in the third by Miguel Amaya.
Bryse Wilson, who wasn’t even in the Cubs organization until four days ago and who last pitched 10 days ago, two innings for the Phillies, was spectacularly good in relief of Rolison. He threw 4.1 innings, allowed four hits and no runs, didn’t walk anyone and struck out four. So between Rolison and Wilson, they threw 6.1 innings, allowed six hits and one run, didn’t walk anyone and struck out six – that’d be a pretty good outing from any starting pitcher.
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Wilson got helped out by this nice grab by Pete Crow-Armstrong [VIDEO].
This is how good Wilson was in relief:
Welcome to the Cubs, Bryse Wilson! One more note on Wilson, from BCB’s JohnW53:
Bryse Wilson is the 23rd player to make his debut as a Cub this season — 17 pitchers, 6 position players.
That raises the all-time count since 1876, first season of the National League, to 2,300, the most by any team.
The Cardinals are second, with 2,250. They began play in 1882. The Braves, the only other active team that began in 1876, have used 2,184, which is sixth most.
So the game went to the seventh with the Cubs still down just 1-0. With one out, Ian Happ walked and Nico Hoerner singled him to third – just the Cubs’ second hit.
With Matt Shaw at the plate, Aaron Ashby uncorked a wild pitch, scoring Happ to tie the game [VIDEO].
Shaw walked, putting runners on first and third with one out, but pinch-hitter Pedro Ramirez struck out and Dansby Swanson flied out, ending the inning.
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No further runs crossed the plate in the seventh, eighth or ninth. Oddly, Justin Dean was sent up to bat for Matt Shaw in the top of the ninth. He struck out. Here’s why that change was made:
The Cubs got good relief work from Caleb Thielbar, Tyler Ferguson (despite a throwing error with a runner on first on a pickoff attempt) and Jacob Webb. With the potential winning run on second and two out in the bottom of the ninth, Webb struck out Joey Ortiz to send it to extras [VIDEO].
All the leverage relievers have now been used by both teams, so the Brewers had to use Joel Kuhnel in the 10th. Dean was the placed runner. He went to third on a ground out. Swanson struck out, and then the Cubs rallied. Ball one was thrown to PCA, who was then intentionally passed. PCA stole second without a throw, taking away a force play and putting two runners in scoring position. Alex Bregman was hit by a pitch, loading the bases.
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Kuhnel then walked Michael Busch, giving the Cubs a 2-1 lead [VIDEO].
The bases are still loaded, and Seiya Suzuki came through with a two-run single [VIDEO].
A three-run lead in an extra inning should usually be enough for the visiting team. But remember when I said that all the leverage relievers had been used?
That meant Ethan Roberts was on for the Cubs. He’s been pretty good much of this season, but not on Friday against these same Brewers. Joey Ortiz was the placed runner for Milwaukee, and he scored on a single by Christian Yelich to make it 4-2. Then Jackson Chourio walked and Brice Turang singled, loading the bases.
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That’s when Wicks came into the game. You were not filled with confidence at this move, but it was the only move Counsell had. Wicks walked Garrett Mitchell to make it 4-3. Wicks looked completely nerve-wracked on the mound, just as he had much of this season.
And then, some magic happened. Wicks got Jake Bauers to pop to short left for the first out.
Sanchez, who had started the scoring with his second-inning homer, was the next hitter. I was thinking, “If only Wicks could get him to hit the ball on the ground, he’s a good double-play candidate.”
And that… is exactly what happened [VIDEO].
You can see in the reaction by the Cubs fans there, and in the Cubs dugout, how big, how important this win was. It showed, I believe, that the Cubs are just as good as the Brewers, even with all the pitching injuries, even when having to use random pitchers picked up off the waiver wire. I am going to say this right here, right now, and you can believe me or don’t, but if the Cubs can somehow go on a run and win the NL Central, that run begins right here, right now, with this win in Milwaukee on June 28, 2026.
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The Cubs’ series win here is an excellent accomplishment. It continues their good run – now 12-4 in their last 16 games – and moves them to within 5.5 games of first place. They’re now 23-21 on the road and return to Wrigley Field Monday to begin a six-game homestand. If you’re not optimistic now… well, jump on the bandwagon with me, won’t you?
Here are postgame comments from Wicks [VIDEO].
The Cubs will open a three-game series against the San Diego Padres Monday evening at Wrigley Field. Shōta Imanaga will start the series opener for the Cubs. At this writing the Padres do not have a starter listed for Monday. Game time is 7:05 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.
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