The Cubs hit three home runs to shut out the Brewers, forcing a decisive Game 5 in the series.

Coming back to their home stadium, Wrigley Field, after losing two straight games, the Chicago Cubs successfully preserved their chances in the series. In the fourth game of the NLDS, the Cubs hit three home runs and blanked the Milwaukee Brewers 6-0, tying the series at 2-2. The teams will head back to the Brewers’ venue on October 12 (Beijing time) for the pivotal Game 5, where the victor will move on to the NLCS.

Facing Brewers’ starting pitcher Freddy Peralta, the Cubs struck early in the bottom of the first inning when Ian Happ launched a three-run homer to give his team the lead. Peralta ended up pitching 4 innings, allowing 5 hits and 3 runs, while striking out 6 before being pulled from the game.

The Cubs extended their lead in the middle to late innings. In the bottom of the sixth, Matt Shaw added two more runs with a hit while runners were on first and second, pushing the score to 4-0. In the seventh inning, Kyle Tucker hit a solo home run, followed by another homer from Michael Busch in the eighth, fully energizing the Chicago home crowd.

Starting left-hander Matthew Boyd delivered a solid performance, pitching 4.2 scoreless innings. In the fifth inning, he allowed a double to leadoff hitter Sal Frelick and walked Blake Perkins, but then struck out Christian Yelich with runners on second and third and one out. Although just one out away from qualifying for the win, the Cubs promptly brought in Daniel Palencia, who induced an infield fly from Jackson Chourio to escape the jam.

The Brewers won 97 games in the regular season, the most in the league, and entered the Division Series as the top seed in the National League. However, their path to advancement is now precarious; if they fail to win the do-or-die game on the 12th, their bid for the franchise’s first-ever World Series title will be dashed prematurely.