Sep 16, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Montero (47) is doused with water after hitting a walk-off home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the tenth inning at Wrigley Field. The Cubs won 5-4. Photo Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
CHICAGO — Miguel Montero launched a walk-off solo home run in the 10th inning as the Chicago Cubs rallied for a 5-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday.
Montero’s blast to left came off Brewers reliever Blaine Boyer for his third career walk-off home run and gave the National League Central champions their seventh walk-off win of the season.
Cubs reliever Aroldis Chapman (1-1) struck out the side in the 10th for the victory while Boyer (2-4) took the loss after facing just one batter.
Chicago scored twice in the ninth off Milwaukee reliever Carlos Torres to force a 4-4 tie and extra innings.
Willson Contreras led off the ninth with a leadoff double to right and scored on Chris Coghlan’s single to center to make it 4-3.
Tommy La Stella reached on a grounder that was bobbled by first baseman Chris Carter, leaving runners on first and second, before Torres hit second baseman Munenori Kawasaki with a pitch to load the bases.
Pinch hitter Addison Russell forced the 4-4 tie by beating out an infield hit that scored Coghlan. Torres got the next two batters out as Matt Szczur filed out to center while Javier Baez hit a weak grounder to Torres.
Scooter Gennett had given Milwaukee a 4-2 lead with a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh.
The Brewers (66-82) saw a two-game winning streak snapped.
The Cubs (93-54) were the first team to secure a postseason berth on Thursday night and returned to action on Friday with a significantly altered lineup as manager Joe Maddon rested his regular position players.
The most experienced Cub was right-handed starter John Lackey, who had no decision after pitching seven innings, his longest outing since returning from the disabled list earlier this month.
Brewers starter Chase Anderson also had no decision as he worked six innings and allowed two runs on five hits while striking out three and walking three.
Lackey gave up four earned runs on nine hits — including three home runs. He walked two and struck out eight
Milwaukee grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning when shortstop Orlando Arcia sent Lackey’s first pitch deep into the left field bleachers for a 1-0 lead.
Ryan Braun’s team-leading 28th homer of the season gave the Brewers a 2-0 lead in the third. His blast deep to center field came on a 1-0 pitch.
Gennett clubbed his 13th home run of the season in the seventh — delivering his second go-ahead run in two games — to give Milwaukee a 4-2 lead. Gennett’s blast scored catcher Andrew Susac with two out.
Brewers center fielder Keon Broxton left the game in the third inning after chasing down La Stella’s fly ball. He suffered a right wrist fracture after running into the outfield wall.
Chicago left fielder Jorge Soler also left the game in the third after he developed tightness in his right side.
Cubs players and coaches came out to the field prior to Friday’s first pitch to take a bow in front of cheering fans after clinching the NL Central title late Thursday night.
Chicago missed a chance to clinch outright with a 5-4 loss to the Brewers on Thursday, but the San Francisco Giants’ 6-2 win over St. Louis as midnight approached knocked the Cardinals out of contention and gave the Cubs the crown.
NOTES: Brewers RHP Michael Blazek threw a simulated game on Thursday and will try another next week at home. The Milwaukee reliever could be cleared to pitch for the season’s final stretch. … CF Keon Broxton is batting .289 with eight homers and 17 RBIs in his fourth stint with the Brewers after a July 25 call-up from Triple-A Colorado Springs. … Milwaukee sends RHP Zach Davies (10-7, 3.87 ERA) against Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta (17-6, 2.91) in Saturday’s third game of the series. … The NL Central champion Cubs have reached the postseason in back-to-back seasons, only the fourth time in franchise history and first since 2007-08. … LHP Jon Lester’s current run of pitching at least six innings and allowing two or fewer runs over his last nine starts matches the longest single-season streak by a Cub, joining Jake Arrieta (2015) and Bill Lee (1938). … With 31 homers and 101 RBIs entering Friday, 3B Anthony Rizzo is the second left-hander in Cubs history with at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs in a season.
