Lara's Clutch Single Lifts Brewers Past Cubs in 10th Inning Thriller
Source: ABC 7 Chicago Sports. Casualplayhub News adds summary, context, and editorial framing while linking back to the original report.
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The Milwaukee Brewers are making a habit of late-inning magic. For the second straight night, they rallied past the Chicago Cubs, this time winning 4-3 in 10 innings on Luis Lara's walk-off single. The victory padded Milwaukee's NL Central lead to nine games, putting further distance between the division rivals.
Jackson Chourio once again ignited the comeback. With two outs and nobody on in the ninth, pinch-hitter Christian Yelich singled to keep hope alive. Chourio then crushed an 0-1 fastball from Jacob Webb over the left-field wall, sending the crowd into a frenzy and tying the game at 3-3. The 22-year-old had already collected three hits earlier in the night, and his 22nd homer of the season marked a new career high.
Chourio's heroics came after the Cubs seized a 3-1 lead in the top of the ninth. Pinch-hitter Carson Kelly laced a bases-loaded double off Trevor Megill, driving in two runs and putting Chicago on the brink of victory. But the Brewers refused to fold.
In the 10th, automatic runner Brice Turang stood at second base. After an intentional walk to William Contreras, Sal Frelick blooped a single to load the bases. Lara, a 23-year-old rookie, then lined a clean single into left field, scoring Turang and setting off a celebration at home plate.
The Cubs had a chance to take the lead in the top of the 10th when automatic runner Seiya Suzuki tried to tag up and advance to third on Alex Bregman's deep fly to center. But Garrett Mitchell unleashed a perfect throw to gun him down, a pivotal defensive play that shifted momentum. DL Hall, who earned the win, subsequently retired Michael Busch and Nico Hoerner to keep the game tied.
Milwaukee's starting pitching set the stage for the dramatics. Jacob Misiorowski, the young ace with an electric arm, rebounded from a rough outing six days earlier at Wrigley Field. On Tuesday, he worked 6 1/3 innings, struck out nine, and yielded only one run—a two-out single by Michael Busch that plated Suzuki in the first inning. Misiorowski lowered his MLB-leading ERA to 1.95 and hit a peak velocity of 104.5 mph. He threw 46 pitches at 100 mph or faster, and according to MLB researcher Sarah Langs, he has now thrown 1,010 such pitches this season—far surpassing the previous team record of 673 set by the 2018 St. Louis Cardinals (all by Jordan Hicks).
The Cubs' early run came courtesy of Suzuki, who doubled with one out in the first and came home on Busch's single. But Misiorowski settled in, retiring 12 consecutive batters between the second and sixth innings. He exited after 100 pitches, having allowed just three hits and one walk.
Chicago starter Kevin Gausman will take the mound Wednesday against Milwaukee's Logan Henderson in the series finale. The Brewers look to complete a sweep and further solidify their grip on the division.
Article commentary
The Brewers' back-to-back comeback wins over the Cubs underscore a defining trait of this Milwaukee team: resilience. Down to their last out in the ninth on Tuesday, the Brewers refused to concede, and Jackson Chourio delivered the latest in a string of clutch performances from a player who continues to exceed expectations. His 22 homers as a 22-year-old are remarkable, but it is his poise in high-leverage moments that truly sets him apart. This victory also highlighted the absurd depth of Milwaukee's bullpen and defensive versatility. Garrett Mitchell's throw to cut down Seiya Suzuki in the 10th was a game-changer—a reminder that speed on the bases can be neutralized by elite arm strength. The Brewers have built a roster that thrives on athleticism and situational execution, and those traits are paying off as the playoff race intensifies. Jacob Misiorowski's performance reinforces his status as one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. His ability to miss bats while maintaining pinpoint control—only one walk in 6 1/3 innings—is extraordinary for a pitcher who throws triple-digit heat with regularity. The fact that he has thrown 1,010 pitches at 100 mph or faster this season is staggering; it speaks to both his talent and the Brewers' willingness to let him air it out. For context, that number exceeds the total for an entire team in any season since pitch tracking began in 2008. It is a statistic that borders on the unbelievable. From the Cubs' perspective, this loss stings. They had a 3-1 lead in the ninth and were three outs away from beating a division rival on the road. Instead, their bullpen faltered, and defensive mistakes—including the inability to keep Chourio in the park—proved costly. Chicago now sits nine games back in the NL Central with limited time to close the gap. While the wild-card race remains viable, the margin for error is shrinking. What makes Milwaukee's surge particularly impressive is its timing. September baseball demands composure under pressure, and the Brewers are delivering. They are playing clean, aggressive baseball, and their young stars are stepping up when it matters most. If Chourio continues to produce and Misiorowski stays healthy, this team could be a nightmare matchup in October. One area worth monitoring: the workload on Milwaukee's bullpen. Using multiple high-leverage arms in consecutive nights is sustainable in the short term, but the Brewers will need to manage innings carefully down the stretch. That said, with a nine-game cushion, they have the luxury of strategic rest. Overall, Tuesday's game was a showcase of modern baseball—velocity, late-inning drama, and split-second defensive decisions. The Brewers are proving they have the talent and temperament to win tight games, and that is precisely the formula for postseason success.