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 "That's a pitch I don't allow myself to let it go by me. I'm better
than that and I've got to block that pitch," he said.
But Montero was clear-headed and determined when he stepped to the
plate to open the Cubs' 10th. He lined an 0-1 pitch off Brewers
right-handed reliever Michael Blazek to left field for the winning
home run and a 3-2 victory.
It was Chicago's 11th walk off win of the season.
"You've got to move on. It's already over and I was just coming up
to hit and get a good pitch to hit and lucky enough, I did," said
Montero, who clubbed his 11th homer of the season and second
walk-off of his career.
The Cubs (64-48) collected their sixth straight win and 12th in 13
games and improved to a season-high 16 games above .500.
The loss was the second straight and fourth in five games for the
Brewers (48-67), who dropped their second straight series to the
Cubs.
Left-handed reliever Tommy Hunter (1-0) worked a perfect 10th for
the win. Blazek, the fourth Brewers pitcher, faced just one batter
in the 10th and fell to 5-3 with the loss.
Second baseman Addison Russell's two-out single to center in the
fifth drove in Montero to snap a 1-1 tie and give the Cubs a 2-1
lead that lasted into the ninth.
But Cubs right-handed reliever Hector Rondon fell short in a bid for
his 20th save when he allowed the tying run to score with two outs
in the ninth.
Right fielder Ryan Braun singled and first baseman Adam Lind reached
on an error with none out and both advanced a base on Rondon's wild
pitch.
Rondon struck out left fielder Khris Davis and second baseman
Scooter Gennett but threw another wild pitch with two strikes on
shortstop Jean Segura as Braun scored to make it 2-2.
Brewers right-handed starter Matt Garza had no decision after
allowing two runs and four hits in seven innings. He struck out four
and walked two. It was his second straight seven-inning effort.
"I'm finally healthy," Garza said. "First three months I was
fighting pain. I'm finally healthy and I'm doing what I should have
been doing. ... I'm happy where I'm at, but there's still stuff to
do."
Chicago right-handed starter Jason Hammel worked 5 2/3 innings in a
no-decision and allowed one run and four hits, struck out five and
walked one.
With the hot-hitting Lind coming to the plate in the sixth, Cubs
manager Joe Maddon opted to pull Hammel, much to his surprise.
"Obviously," Hammel said. "Trying to win ballgames, I'll leave it at
that. (I) felt great, my leg's good, fastball command is coming
back, slider was good tonight."
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Braun's two-out home run to left in the first inning opened a 1-0
Brewers lead. The first-pitch shot was the 250th of his career and
left Braun one short of matching Robin Yount for the Milwaukee
franchise lead.
"Obviously, it's special. I'm headed in the right direction," Braun
said. "But right now we focus on us, focus on what we're trying to
do as a team, and it's hard to enjoy any type of individual success
when things are going the way they are as a team."
Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant matched Braun's shot in the second.
His first-pitch leadoff homer to right evened the score 1-1. The
home run was the 16th for Bryant, already the most by any Cub
playing in their first season.
The next scoring chance came in the bottom of the fifth.
Montero drew a one-out walk, reached second on Hammel's sacrifice
bunt and scored on Russell's RBI single to center for a 2-1 lead.
In the top of the sixth, Hammel fanned Milwaukee center fielder
Shane Peterson for the 1,000th strikeout of his career.
NOTES: Brewers RHP Francisco Rodriguez entered Wednesday's game with
374 saves, three short of matching Tigers RHP Joe Nathan for seventh
among major league career saves leaders. ... Milwaukee returns home
after Thursday's series finale for a three-game series with
Philadelphia. The Brewers are 24-36 at Miller Park this season. ...
RF Ryan Braun's 250th career home run in the first inning on
Wednesday gave the Brewers two players at or beyond that mark. Nine
major league teams do not have at least two players with 250 or more
career homers. ... Milwaukee sends RHP Tyler Cravy (0-3, 5.40 ERA)
against Chicago LHP Jon Lester (7-8, 3.22) in Thursday's series
finale. Cravy made his major league debut on June 2 in a 1-0 loss to
St. Louis. ... The Cubs' 6-3 win on Tuesday was among 15 victories
by home teams on Tuesday, a major league first. ... Four Cubs have
stolen at least 11 bases this year, including Dexter Fowler (17),
Anthony Rizzo (15), Kris Bryant (12) and Chris Coghlan (11). The
last time the Cubs had four with 11-plus was in 1997.
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