Anthony Rizzo had three hits and scored three runs while pinch hitter Jorge Soler clubbed a three-run homer to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 9-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
The Cubs magic number to clinch a playoff spot dropped to four.
The last time the Cubs played meaningful baseball in the month of September was in 2008 when they last made the playoffs. They’re chasing the Pittsburgh Pirates for the top Wild Card spot in the National League.
Adam Lind and Khris Davis both homered in the loss for the Brewers, but Wily Peralta made it just four and two-thirds innings, allowing six runs on eight hits. Peralta walked four and struck out two. His E-R-A in the last two starts has bloated to eleven-point-five-one.
The Brewers have dropped eight straight to the Cubs. Game two of the series is tonight.