Wisdom sets Cubs rookie home run record in defeat of Brewers
MILWAUKEE - Patrick Wisdom set a Cubs record for homers by a rookie on a day that exemplified his feast-or-famine approach.
Wisdom struck out four times for a second straight day but delivered a towering three-run shot that highlighted the Cubs' eighth-inning comeback in a 6-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.
"It's tough when you have nights like I did last night, and then you see your name in the lineup again hitting fourth," Wisdom said. "You're like, 'Well, they still believe in me. I've got to believe in myself.' It's kind of like a gut check to say, 'Hey, let's go.' Keep believing. Keep going."
The Brewers' ninth-inning rally fell short and the magic number for wrapping up their first NL Central title since 2018 remained at three. Milwaukee clinched its fourth consecutive playoff berth Saturday.
Wisdom has struck out on over 40% of his plate appearances, but he also has 27 homers. That breaks the franchise rookie record formerly held by Kris Bryant, who homered 26 times in 2015.
"This game is tough," Wisdom said. "It can really punch you in the gut sometimes. But you've got to keep getting back up. That's what it's about - resiliency and the next pitch, focusing on that."
Milwaukee trailed 6-2 before nearly coming all the way back against Rowan Wick in the bottom of the ninth.
Christian Yelich singled home two runs with a two-out single. Omar Narváez singled and Luis Urías walked to load the bases. The Cubs brought in Michael Rucker, who retired Jace Peterson on a fly to center to earn his first career save.
"Jace hit a ball pretty good actually, just got under it a little bit," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said.
The Brewers had beaten the Cubs 11 consecutive times, one off the franchise record for consecutive victories over one opponent. The Brewers won 12 straight from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2008.
Milwaukee seemed on its way to matching that record until the Cubs rallied from a 2-1 deficit in the eighth.
Pinch-hitter Willson Contreras started the rally with a 14-pitch walk against Brad Boxberger (5-4). Matt Duffy and Frank Schwindel followed that up by hitting consecutive first-pitch RBI doubles.
"It was a great at bat by Contreras," Counsell said. "I don't know that it took anything out of (Boxberger), but he made probably two pitches over the middle of the plate after that, and they hit them pretty hard."
Jandel Gustave took over for Boxberger and promptly walked David Bote and allowed Wisdom's 430-foot drive to center.
"The one thing that I love about Patrick is he just keeps having his at bats," Cubs manager David Ross said. "It hasn't been the best series for him offensively, a lot of swing-and-miss there, and he continues to be that threat. That's what he brings. He plays good defense. He's versatile. And he's got real thump in the bat."
Adam Morgan (1-0) earned the win with one inning of shutout relief.