Boyd and Happ lead the Cubs past
the Brewers 6-0 to send the NLDS to a deciding Game 5
[October 10, 2025]
By JAY COHEN
CHICAGO (AP) — Matthew Boyd pitched two-hit ball into the fifth
inning, and the Chicago Cubs shut down the Milwaukee Brewers for a
6-0 victory Thursday night that pushed their NL Division Series all
the way to a decisive Game 5.
Ian Happ, Kyle Tucker and Michael Busch homered for Chicago,
delighting a rollicking Wrigley Field crowd of 41,770. Busch went
deep for the second straight game and third time in the series.
“It’s cool that the brightest lights have brought the best out of a
lot of our guys,” said Nico Hoerner, who had three of Chicago’s 10
hits.
The Cubs were on the brink of elimination after they dropped the
first two games in Milwaukee. But they held on for a 4-3 victory
Wednesday before making the most of a sharp performance by Boyd and
four relievers in Game 4.
Next up is the finale of the best-of-five series back in Milwaukee
on Saturday night. The winner takes on the Los Angeles Dodgers in
the National League Championship Series.
“We’ve got to regroup,” Brewers star Christian Yelich said. “We've
got one more game to play. We’ve got to make sure we’re ready to
go.”
The Brewers, who went 97-65 this season for the majors' best record,
finished with three hits. They were 1 for 13 with runners in scoring
position and left 13 on base overall in the two games at Wrigley.
“They’re built to be great, and they played great these two games,”
Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said. “Hopefully the tables will turn
when we get into Game 5 at our place. But we have to find out how
bad we’re going to fight back.”
Boyd also started the series opener Saturday. Pitching on three
days' rest, he recorded just two outs while Freddy Peralta worked
into the sixth inning in Milwaukee's 9-3 win.
Given another opportunity, Boyd delivered. The All-Star left-hander
struck out six and walked three in 4 2/3 innings.
“The atmosphere was amazing tonight,” Boyd said. “We've got the best
fans in baseball, and it was electric. We’ve been feeding off them
since April, but tonight was another level, and that was super
special.”
The 34-year-old Boyd was staked to an early lead when Happ drove a
1-1 fastball from Peralta deep to right for a three-run drive with
two out in the first. Hoerner singled and Tucker walked ahead of
Happ's third career postseason homer.
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Chicago Cubs fans celebrate after Game 4 of baseball's National
League Division against the Milwaukee Brewers Series Thursday, Oct.
9, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Chicago has gone deep in the first in each of the four NLDS games.
It has scored 11 of its 16 runs in the series in the first inning.
It was a big swing for Happ, who went 2 for 21 with 11 strikeouts in
Chicago's first six postseason games this year.
“The guys have been carrying me all postseason so to contribute in
that moment and give us the lead was awesome for me,” Happ said.
Happ hit a solo drive off Peralta in Game 1, but he is 2 for 32 with
14 strikeouts against the right-hander in the regular season.
“For me, it wasn’t a mistake. It was a pitch we wanted, and he was
just able to hit it really hard,” Peralta said.
The Cubs had a 3-0 lead when Boyd exited with runners on second and
third in the fifth, drawing a huge ovation from the crowd. Daniel
Palencia came in and retired Jackson Chourio on a popup to
shortstop, ending the inning.
Palencia also worked the sixth in this third win of the playoffs.
Drew Pomeranz and Brad Keller each got three outs before Caleb
Thielbar handled the ninth.
“Just a really great group effort,” Hoerner said.
Chicago blew a bases-loaded opportunity in the fifth, but Matt Shaw
hit an RBI single off Aaron Ashby in the sixth. The rookie third
baseman had two hits after he went 0 for 12 in his first six
postseason games.
Tucker added a leadoff drive in the seventh against Robert Gasser,
and Busch connected in the eighth. It was Busch’s fourth homer in
this postseason overall.
“We just made them uncomfortable,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said.
“We just made every pitch uncomfortable, and that’s what you’re
supposed to do.”
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