Milwaukee Brewers Defeat Chicago Cubs 3-1 to Advance to NLCS

The Milwaukee Brewers clinched a hard-fought 3-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs in Game 5 of the National League Division Series (NLDS), earning a long-awaited ticket to the National League Championship Series (NLCS). The win, sealed at American Family Field, marked Milwaukee’s first postseason series triumph since 2018 and set up a highly anticipated showdown against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This decisive game was a showcase of power hitting and resilient bullpen work. All three of the Brewers’ runs came via solo home runs — one each by William Contreras, Andrew Vaughn, and Brice Turang. Vaughn’s go-ahead homer in the fourth inning proved to be the difference-maker, and Turang’s 416-foot blast to center in the seventh provided crucial insurance. For the Cubs, the lone highlight was a second-inning solo shot from Seiya Suzuki, but Chicago’s bats were otherwise quiet, managing only four hits on the night. A remarkable aspect of this NLDS was the unprecedented offensive outburst in the opening frames: the series featured a record-setting 22 combined first-inning runs — four more than any playoff series in Major League Baseball history. Yet, Game 5 bucked that trend as pitching dominated after the early fireworks. Milwaukee’s pitching staff executed a strategic bullpen game. Rookie Jacob Misiorowski was stellar in relief, allowing just one run over four innings, striking out three, and issuing no walks. His only blemish was the Suzuki homer, but he recovered with poise — a significant step forward after a challenging second half of the regular season that saw him relegated to the bullpen with a 6.06 ERA in his final eight outings. Fellow rookie Chad Patrick escaped a major sixth-inning jam, retiring Suzuki and Ian Happ with two runners on base to protect Milwaukee’s slim lead. The significance of this win was not lost on Brewers fans, especially as it came against former manager Craig Counsell, now leading the rival Cubs. Counsell, Milwaukee’s all-time winningest manager, received a chorus of boos at every mention, underscoring the rivalry’s intensity. With this victory, new Brewers skipper Pat Murphy matched Counsell’s total for postseason series wins with the franchise. Historically, the Brewers have reached the playoffs in six of the past seven seasons but had not advanced beyond the NLDS since 2018, when they fell to the Dodgers in a dramatic seven-game NLCS. This year, however, the Brewers boasted MLB’s best regular-season record and swept the Dodgers in two series during the season (6-0), adding intrigue to the upcoming matchup. The Dodgers, defending World Series champions, have had the upper hand in recent playoff clashes, making this rematch especially compelling for fans and bettors alike. Game 1 of the Brewers-Dodgers NLCS is set for Monday night at American Family Field. With Milwaukee’s momentum and historic regular-season dominance, the series promises high-stakes drama and statistical intrigue. For bettors and analysts, the Brewers’ combination of timely power hitting and flexible bullpen management could be the edge they need to finally reach the World Series for just the second time in franchise history. For full game stats and box scores, visit the ESPN Cubs vs. Brewers box score and the official MLB Game Recap.