Cubs avoid elimination, but their big bet is still in danger of being wasted

Reluctant to spend on free agents last offseason, Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer instead opted to make a blockbuster deal, sending Isaac Paredes, Cam Smith and Hayden Wesneski to the Houston Astros for what was — and still is — the last inexpensive year of Kyle Tucker’s career. Having acquired a bona fide star rental, the clock was running on a World Series-or-bust season. But despite Hoyer's efforts, the Cubs' win-it-all aspirations fell into peril. 

After defeating the San Diego Padres in the wild-card round, the Cubs found themselves hitting a wall. Chicago started the NLDS in a 0-2 hole right out of the gates against a relentless Milwaukee Brewers team. But facing elimination in a possible sweep, the Cubs proved they are still alive and kicking.

The odds had already dipped out of the Cubs’ favor in the first inning, when their infield lost a fly ball with no one covering second. To manager Craig Counsell’s objections, the infield fly rule was not on, loading the bases. A sac fly from Sal Frelick would score the first run of the game. But it wouldn’t be long before the Cubs struck back.

Cubs' outburst in the first inning was enough to seal the game 

Michael Busch led off the Cubs’ half of the inning with a game-tying home run. Two walks, two hits and a wild pitch later, the Cubs were up 4-1, the big blow coming on a two-run base hit from Pete Crow-Armstrong, knocking Brewers starter Quinn Priester out early. The Brewers would score one run in the fourth and one in the seventh to make it 4-3. Their rally would fall short in the eighth with a bases-loaded strikeout of Jake Bauers.