Chicago Cubs rookie Matt Shaw won an important 11-pitch at-bat in the third inning that kept a rally going.
The third baseman also barehanded an Anthony Seigler bunt attempt and threw him out in the sixth inning to prevent a rally attempt from going haywire.
And since good things can come in threes, Shaw topped off the night with an eighth-inning solo home run, which turned out to be the game-winner in a 4-3 victory over the first-place Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday in front of a Wrigley Field crowd of 36,327.
Out of the three highlights, which one was his favorite?
“I think hitting that home run was in a bigger spot,” Shaw said. “Obviously, it was really important in a close game. That felt bigger in the moment.”
The Cubs (73-54) clinched the five-game series against the Brewers (79-48) with Thursday afternoon’s game remaining. The Cubs moved to six games behind Milwaukee in the National League Central. They have won five of their last six games, including three in a row against the Brewers, who came into the series winning 14 of their previous 15 games.
After Shaw’s 11-pitch walk from rookie All-Star pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (4-2) to load the bases in the third, Michael Busch blasted a bases-clearing double.
“Gosh, one of the most exciting moments in the last month or so was (Busch) hitting that double,” Shaw said. “It was just a really cool moment.”
Photos: Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 at Wrigley Field
Busch said Shaw’s at-bat was “one of the biggest at-bats in the game, if not the biggest in my opinion.”
Shaw started the at-bat missing two bunt attempts to go 0-2 before the chess match started.
Winning pitcher Colin Rea (10-5) left the game in the sixth inning, right after Shaw fielded Seigler’s bunt, which would have put runners at first and second with one out.
“That play that Shaw made was incredible,” Rea said. “It was a great bunt. I thought it was a base hit. Shaw comes out of nowhere to make a great play and make a strong throw.”
Daniel Palencia picked up his 18th save after giving up a ninth-inning run and facing William Conteras in a bases-loaded situation with two outs. Conteras lined a snowcone into second baseman Nico Hoerner’s glove to end the game.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell was impressed that Palencia was able to get out of the jam.
“We talk about being what a closer is and how you have to keep making pitches no matter what’s going on,” Counsell said. “Some things can go the wrong way for you. But you still have to keep making pitches and he did that.”
For the third straight game, slumping All-Star right fielder Kyle Tucker did not start. Counsell confirmed an ESPN report after the game that the finger injury Tucker suffered sliding into second base on June 1 against Cincinnati resulted in a hairline fracture in his hand.
“I think that’s kind of out there,” Counsell said. “He injured his hand in a slide and initial X-rays were negative. We had an off day, he sat out a day. He pinch hit the next day.
“He was sore but good to go. He was sore for a little while but he was able to play. We did some more imaging and it did show a small fracture that was healing. That’s it.”
Counsell also admitted the injury has contributed to Tucker’s slump.
“It is possible that playing through it changed some things? Yeah. Absolutely,” Counsell said. “I think it’s probably likely at some point that happened. But he wanted to play.”
Counsell said the fracture has healed.
Tucker is hitting .182 with three extra base hits and six RBIs since the All-Star break, and earlier this week was booed by Wrigley Field patrons for not running on groundouts.
Counsell thinks giving Tucker some time off to work on his swing will pay dividends.
“If you are playing, you are going to figure out something that will work for the day,” Counsell said. “If you are not playing, you are going to try some things that may have a longer-term impact.
“Then you can, frankly, sit on them a little bit and evaluate them without an hour later having results. And I think that’s important. There’s just more time. And that drifts into the mental part. And that’s important for Kyle.”
Counsell said Tucker will play on the coming road trip “a lot.”
Rookie starter Cade Horton, who left Monday’s 7-0 loss to the Brewers in the third inning with a blister on his middle finger, may not miss his next start.
“We’re happy with how it looks and how it feels,” Counsell said of Horton. “We’re optimistic that he will make a start on Saturday.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
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