Gennett breaks tie again, but Brewers fall to Cubs in extras
CHICAGO -- First, Milwaukee lost outfielders Keon Broxton and Kirk Nieuwenhuis to injuries. Then the Brewers blew a late lead and lost on a game-ending homer, kicking off a big party for the Chicago Cubs.
It was another rough day in a long season.
Ryan Braun, Orlando Arcia and Scooter Gennett homered for Milwaukee on Friday, but the Cubs got to Carlos Torres for two runs in the ninth and celebrated their NL Central title with a 5-4 win on Miguel Montero's seventh homer in the 10th inning.
"Carlos had a bad day," manager Craig Counsell said. "He's had a lot of good days. Today just wasn't his day."
Broxton slammed into the wall in left center while tracking down Tommy La Stella's drive in the third inning, breaking his right wrist. He was replaced by Nieuwenhuis, who left in the seventh inning with an abdominal strain.
"It's very disappointing," Broxton said. "I wanted to finish out the season, keep working, keep getting comfortable and keep getting more experience. It's a tough loss right now, but I'll come back strong."
The Cubs became the first major league team to clinch their division when St. Louis lost at San Francisco late Thursday night. They had a chance to wrap it up in front of their delirious fans at Wrigley Field earlier Thursday, but Gennett's tiebreaking two-run double in the seventh lifted Milwaukee to a 5-4 win.
Gennett almost ruined the party again, giving the Brewers a 4-2 lead with a two-run drive in the seventh for his 13th homer. But Chris Coghlan and pinch-hitter Addison Russell each had an RBI single in the ninth for Chicago, and Montero connected for a leadoff drive in the 10th against Blaine Boyer (2-4).
"It all worked out pretty good," a grinning Montero said.
Chase Anderson pitched six solid innings for Milwaukee (66-82), allowing two runs and five hits. The right-hander is 1-0 with a 1.08 ERA in three September starts.
But Anderson's thoughts were with Broxton after the game.
"It's terrible. When a guy makes a play like that behind you -- he plays the game with such intensity -- runs into the wall and breaks his wrist, it's super unfortunate," Anderson said. "I guess the good thing is we're close to the end of the season. He's had almost a whole season and he'll be ready for spring training. Keon is a great player and it stinks for him because he was getting hot."
Coghlan had three hits for Chicago, and Albert Almora Jr. hit a two-run homer. Aroldis Chapman (4-1) struck out the side in the 10th for his first win with the Cubs.
"Just got to keep pushing," Russell said. "This is only the beginning."
RESTING
Brewers infielder Jonathan Villar was out of the starting lineup. He struck out swinging as a pinch hitter in the ninth.
Villar is batting .129 (4 for 31) with 11 strikeouts in his last nine games.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Brewers: Nieuwenhuis will be evaluated again on Monday.
Cubs: LF Jorge Soler departed after three innings due to tightness on his right side. Soler grounded into a double play in the first in his only at-bat. It was unclear when the injury occurred. ... C Contreras was shaken up after he was hit in the groin by a Braun foul ball in the first inning. Manager Joe Maddon and a trainer came out to check on him, but he stayed in the game.
UP NEXT
RHPs Jake Arrieta of the Cubs and Zach Davies of the Brewers face off on Saturday. Arrieta (17-6, 2.91 ERA) is 5-1 with a 3.40 ERA in his last seven starts. Davies (10-7, 3.87 ERA) pitched 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball in a no-decision at St. Louis on Sunday in his last outing.
