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Jordan Bastian @bastianmlb.bsky.social · 1d

Cade Horton, on the younger core expecting to make multiple playoff runs in the future:

"That’s what we all believe. I think that’s why this hurts so much. But next year, it’s going to be a completely different story. I think all of us kind of just got our feet wet. So, next year, it’s time."

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Jordan Bastian @bastianmlb.bsky.social · 1d

"It stings extra, because the belief of the group was legit. It was high. Winning a World Series. Playing the biggest games in baseball. Yeah, those games at Wrigley were incredibly uplifting. Obviously we had a lot more ahead of us in our mind." -- Nico Hoerner

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Jordan Bastian @bastianmlb.bsky.social · 1d

That’s a wrap. Brewers 3, Cubs 1.

The last book of 2025 ⤵️

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Jordan Bastian @bastianmlb.bsky.social · 1d

Andrew Vaughn hit a two-out, full-count homer off Colin Rea to put the Cubs behind 2-1 in the 4th. Milwaukee went on to load the bases, prompting Counsell to hand the ball his "mid-game closer," Daniel Palencia.

Palencia gets Joey Ortiz to chop into a fielder's choice groundout to escape.

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Jordan Bastian @bastianmlb.bsky.social · 1d

Back on Aug. 20, Suzuki belted a 100+ mph fastball from Misiorowski to nearly the same right-center spot, but at Wrigley. And the wind blew that 22 feet back for a deep flyout, per Statcast (via @slangsonsports.bsky.social).

No wind here with the AmFam roof closed.

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Reposted by Jordan Bastian

slangsonsports.bsky.social @slangsonsports.bsky.social · 1d

SEIYA SUZUKI

Off 101.4 mph

That ties Jackson Chourio earlier this series for the fastest pitch hit for a postseason home run under pitch tracking (2008)

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Jordan Bastian @bastianmlb.bsky.social · 1d

And Seiya Suzuki answers, launching a 101.4 mph heater from Jacob Misiorowski out to right-center for a game-tying blast in the 2nd inning. And the Cubs right fielder was pumping his fist hard as he rounded first.

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Jordan Bastian @bastianmlb.bsky.social · 1d

Between the regular season and playoffs, Cubs lefty Drew Pomeranz had retired 25 batters in a row, dating back to Sept. 23.

That perfect run ends with a 2-out homer by William Contreras in the first inning of Game 5.

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Jordan Bastian @bastianmlb.bsky.social · 1d

“I think both sides are acknowledging that the first inning has been pretty big in this series.” —Counsell, on Pomeranz and Megill being openers in Game 5

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Reposted by Jordan Bastian

Meghan Montemurro @mmontemurro.bsky.social · 1d

Rather fitting that the first postseason meeting between Cubs-Brewers comes down to Game 5 tonight. They have been evenly matched the entire season.

In 17 games against each other, including the postseason, Cubs have won 9 games, Brewers have won 8. Total runs scored: Cubs 76, Brewers 75

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Jordan Bastian @bastianmlb.bsky.social · 1d

Early BP at AmFam for Cubs…

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Jordan Bastian @bastianmlb.bsky.social · 1d

NLDS Game 5 tonight…

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Jordan Bastian @bastianmlb.bsky.social · 1d

The Cubs are going with an opener for Game 5 of the NLDS. Lefty Drew Pomeranz will take the ball to start the game against the Brewers in Milwaukee.

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Jordan Bastian @bastianmlb.bsky.social · 2d

Ha, was busy writing and from my seat’s viewpoint I thought it was a homer! Whoops!

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Jordan Bastian @bastianmlb.bsky.social · 2d

Cubs manager Craig Counsell says they do not have a starter to announce yet for Game 5 of the NLDS. Asked if there was a remote chance Cade Horton was activated, Counsell gave a firm: "No."

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Jordan Bastian @bastianmlb.bsky.social · 3d

The book got a little messy late, but Cubs win 6-0 to even this NLDS up, 2-2. Back to Milwaukee.

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Jordan Bastian @bastianmlb.bsky.social · 3d

Kyle Tucker has had a nice night for the Cubs: two walks, a solo shot in the 7th and now a single in the 8th. Michael Busch also stays scorching, belting a homer in the 8th (his 3rd of the NLDS and 4th in the playoffs).

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Jordan Bastian @bastianmlb.bsky.social · 3d

Matt Shaw was 0-for-12 in playoffs coming into tonight. He reached via an infield single in the 2nd to snap that drought. Walked in 5th. And here in 6th Shaw delivers an RBI single to center to put Cubs up 4-0 on the Brewers.

It's only the 3rd run the Cubs have scored in Innings 2-9 this series.

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Jordan Bastian @bastianmlb.bsky.social · 3d

Another good one from @slangsonsports.bsky.social:

Scoreless start facing elimination, Cubs postseason history:

2025 NLDS G4 Matthew Boyd (4 2/3 IP)
2025 NLWCS G3 Jameson Taillon (4)
2015 NLWCG Jake Arrieta (SHO)
1935 WS G5 Lon Warneke (6)
1918 WS G5 Hippo Vaughn (SHO)

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Jordan Bastian @bastianmlb.bsky.social · 3d

Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner has two hits in three at-bats tonight so far, giving him a .423 (11-for-26) average in his first career postseason to date.

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Jordan Bastian @bastianmlb.bsky.social · 3d

Nico Hoerner has at least one hit in all of the Cubs' playoff games to far. His 7-game hitting streak to begin a postseason career with the Cubs is the longest since Ryne Sandberg had a 10-game streak between 1984-89.

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Jordan Bastian @bastianmlb.bsky.social · 3d

Happ entered the playoffs with a 2-for-32 career showing off Freddy Peralta. In this series, he is now 2-for-4 with a pair of homers off the Brewers ace.

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Jordan Bastian @bastianmlb.bsky.social · 3d

Per @slangsonsports.bsky.social: The 21 combined runs in the first inning in the Cubs/Brewers NLDS are three more than in the first innings of any other series in postseason history.

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Jordan Bastian @bastianmlb.bsky.social · 3d

And now the old yard is shaking after Ian Happ belts a 3-run homer to get the Cubs' offense rolling.

Chicago has now scored 11 of its 13 runs in this series in the first inning.

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Jordan Bastian @bastianmlb.bsky.social · 3d

The Wrigley Field crowd is giving Peralta loud, exaggerated "FREDDDDY!" chants as he works in the first inning.

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