CHICAGO (670 The Score) — Long before the W flag flew above the famed center field scoreboard at Wrigley Field, most of the 41,770 fans in attendance were standing Thursday.
They stood throughout much of the night at the Friendly Confines as the Cubs blasted three home runs on their way to a 6-0 win over the Brewers in Game 4 of the National League Division Series. Despite the Cubs falling behind 2-0 in the series, there was a sense of belief in Wrigleyville that this team could come back and even it up.
The Cubs met the challenge and showed that the belief was warranted. They're proving to be not only a talented team but a resilient one too.
There will be a winner-take-all Game 5 of this series Saturday at American Family Field. The Brewers didn't pop champagne bottles in the visitors’ clubhouse at Wrigley Field, and the Cubs will gladly hop on buses traveling back to Milwaukee.
“We get to pack our bags,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said with a smile.
All the intrigue between the Cubs and Brewers — the rivalry, the storylines, the drama — will be at stake in the most important game these two teams have played against each other.
On Thursday, Cubs left fielder Ian Happ set the tone for his team in the first inning with a three-run homer off Brewers ace Freddy Peralta. It snapped a postseason slump for Happ and sent the crowd into early jubilation.
“The guys have been carrying me all postseason,” Happ said. “To contribute and do it in that way, in that moment to give us the lead, it was awesome for me. A really cool moment at Wrigley.
“To give them that experience and to hear that roar was pretty special.”
Cubs designated hitter Kyle Tucker – who isn't playing his usual right field spot in the playoffs after dealing with a calf injury – stepped up in the sixth inning and hit his first home run since suffering that injury in early September, a sign that he may be returning to form. Then, first baseman Michael Busch slugged his third homer of the series in the eighth inning.
If there was any lingering doubt inside Wrigley Field, Busch’s latest blast removed it.
Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd started and delivered 4 2/3 innings of shutout work, and the bullpen finished the game for the final 13 outs.
The Brewers arrived in Chicago on Tuesday as the team with a clear advantage, standing one win away from the National League Championship Series. They’re now the team facing the greater pressure. The Cubs have evened the series and perhaps claimed an edge.
“Just as many positives (as there were) in the first two games, the tables were turned here,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “By a way-more-experienced team that played really good.”
Late Thursday night, those fans sang “Go, Cubs, Go” in unison and waved victory flags in the bleachers. Then, they headed to the exits and went off into the streets of Wrigleyville.
When this series resumes Saturday for one final game in Milwaukee with everything on the line, it will be a hostile atmosphere for the Cubs to face. American Family Field hasn't been kind to the visitors.
But the Cubs are heading back north of the state line with the feeling of hope that they gained at Wrigley Field. They might be a different team for Game 5. They're a resilient bunch for certain.
“You just keep the same mindset,” Tucker said. “Just keep grinding. I mean, you just got to win every single game, win every single at-bat and pitch.
“Keep the same mindset and attitude going into the next day and try to take it from there.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.