Milwaukee falls to Chicago in 10th inning, 5-4
CHICAGO — Miguel Montero homered in the 10th inning, and the Chicago Cubs celebrated the NL Central title with a dramatic 5-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday.
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, but Scooter Gennett's tiebreaking two-run double in the seventh lifted Milwaukee to a 5-4 win.
A day later, they put together quite a party.
Chicago (94-53) pushed across two runs in the ninth and Montero connected for a leadoff drive in the 10th against Blaine Boyer (2-4). The Cubs poured out of the dugout to mob Montero at home plate, and then pulled on postseason hats and shirts as the crowd of 40,823 cheered wildly.
There were hugs all around before the team gathered for a photo in front of the pitcher's mound with one of the 'W' flags that fly all over the Chicago area after Cubs victories.
Chris Coghlan had three hits for the Cubs, including an RBI single that kicked off the ninth-inning rally. Albert Almora Jr. hit a two-run homer, and Aroldis Chapman (4-1) struck out the side in the 10th for his first win with the Cubs.
Ryan Braun, Orlando Arcia and Scooter Gennett homered for Milwaukee.