\n<\/p>\n
Ian Happ was a rookie when the Cubs beat the Nationals in the NLDS in 2017.<\/p>\n
Now a veteran of nine North Side seasons, Happ\u2019s big swing Thursday put the Cubs in position to win an NLDS for the first time since.<\/p>\n
The left fielder\u2019s two-out, three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning sent Wrigley Field into a frenzy and was the biggest blow in a 6-0 win that sent this NLDS between the Cubs and Brewers to a winner-take-all fifth game.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat swing by Ian was just incredibly uplifting,\u201d second baseman Nico Hoerner said after the game. \u201cWhat a moment for him, for everybody. He made life easier for the rest of us, for sure, with that one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Life is only so easy, though. The Cubs are still facing elimination.<\/p>\n
But now the Brewers are, too, after a swing in momentum between the division foes. After the first two games of the series went to the home team in Milwaukee, a scene change to the North Side allowed the same to happen in Games 3 and 4.<\/p>\n
Game 5 \u2014 and an end to one of these rivals\u2019 seasons \u2014 comes Saturday in Wisconsin.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe get to pack our bags, man,\u201d manager Craig Counsell said. \u201cThat\u2019s all we wanted to do today was pack our bags.\u201d<\/p>\n
Happ, who carried a .095 postseason batting average into Thursday, hit the first of three Cubs home runs on the night. His second long ball of the series made the Cubs the first team ever to hit a first-inning homer in four consecutive games in the same postseason.<\/p>\n
Stadium-shaking pandemonium ensued.<\/p>\n
It wouldn\u2019t be the only time, with designated hitter Kyle Tucker hitting just his second home run since late August in the seventh inning and first baseman Michael Busch continuing his torrid October with a solo shot in the eighth, his fourth blast of the postseason and third of the series.<\/p>\n
The trio of dingers perhaps stole some thunder from the arms on what was a banner night for Cubs pitching, with lefty Matthew Boyd and a quartet of relievers shutting out the Brewers.<\/p>\n
Boyd rebounded from a hideous Game 1 of the series in which he didn\u2019t make it out of the first inning, twirling 4\u2154 scoreless innings Thursday and departing to a raucous ovation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was kind of like the early version that we were accustomed to seeing early in the year,\u201d shortstop Dansby Swanson said of Boyd. \u201cHe did an unbelievable job today and was able to set a tone early.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a good time for him to be really good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel Palencia, Drew Pomeranz, Brad Keller and Caleb Thielbar teamed for 4\u2153 scoreless innings to finish off the shutout.<\/p>\n
In addition to seeking the franchise\u2019s first NLDS win since 2017, the Cubs are looking to become the first team since the 2017 Yankees to win a best-of-five series after losing the first two games.<\/p>\n
If they can pull it off, they\u2019d be just the third team ever to win an NLDS after going down 2-0, joining the 1981 Dodgers and 2012 Giants, who both went on to win the World Series.<\/p>\n
But if this is going to turn into a championship run \u2014 like the one Thursday\u2019s \u201cTake Me Out to the Ball Game\u201d maestros, Dexter Fowler and Jason Heyward, pulled off the year before Happ cracked the majors \u2014 the Cubs need to win Game 5 on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The winner of that series-determining bout gets an NLCS date with the reigning-champion Dodgers, who won Game 4 of their series against the Phillies on a walk-off error in extra innings Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an even slate, Game 5,\u201d Hoerner said. \u201cBoth teams have had great moments in this series. I love where our group\u2019s at. We played well in all phases of the game [Thursday]. It\u2019s something we take pride in. We\u2019re definitely looking to do that again in Game 5.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had to earn two hard-fought wins,\u201d Counsell said. \u201cWe did that. Now we get the opportunity and the fun of getting to go close out a series.\u201d<\/p>\n