Brewers Out‑Home Run Cubs 3‑1 in NLDS Game 5, Advance to NLCS

In a night of fireworks, the Milwaukee Brewers out‑homered the Chicago Cubs 3‑1 in Game 5 of the National League Division SeriesAmerican Family Field, propelling Milwaukee to the NLCS for the first time since 2018. The winner‑take‑all clash unfolded Saturday, Oct 11, 2025, under a thunderous crowd in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Every single run was a solo home run, and the Brewers’ bullpen kept the Cubs at bay, sealing a series win that flips the NL Central rivalry on its head.

Game Overview

Right off the bat—well, the first pitch—William Contreras, the Brewers’ catcher, launched a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning, putting Milwaukee on the board first. The Cubs answered in the top of the second when Seiya Suzuki, the 31‑year‑old right fielder who signed a five‑year, $85 million deal in December 2021, ripped a solo shot to knot the game at 1‑1.

The next run came in the bottom of the fourth. Andrew Vaughn, the 26‑year‑old former third overall pick in the 2019 draft, belted a clean solo homer to restore the Brewers’ lead, 2‑1. That was the final lead change. In the seventh inning, shortstop Brice Turang, fresh off an eight‑year, $72 million extension signed in March 2025, added insurance with another solo blast, stretching the margin to 3‑1.

When the ninth inning rolled around, the Cubs sent Suzuki to lead off, followed by Aramis Garcia and Carson Kelly, but the trio went down in order—fly out, groundout, groundout—handing the Brewers the final three outs and the series.

Key Home Runs That Decided the Series

All three Brewers runs came on the fly, which is a rarity in postseason baseball. Contreras’ first‑inning blast set the tone; his line drive traveled 425 feet, just over the left‑field wall. Vaughn’s fourth‑inning shot was a slower, high‑arc homer that cleared the roof of the temporary bleachers—something the fan‑fares at Milwaukee love to remember. Turang’s seventh‑inning blast was the most dramatic, coming with two outs and a runner on third, erasing any lingering doubt.

For Chicago, Suzuki’s solo blast was the lone highlight. The Japanese star’s power has been a bright spot all season, but his three‑run total for the series fell short of the Brewers’ firepower. The Cubs also saw a miscue that cost them; second baseman Nick Madrigal mishandled a routine grounder in the fifth inning, allowing the potential tying run to advance.

Bullpen Game Strategies and Pitching Matchups

Both clubs employed a modern “bullpen‑game” approach. Milwaukee opened with right‑hander Trevor Megill, who came straight from the warm‑up bullpen. Megill threw two perfect innings, handing the ball to veteran left‑hander Colin Rea, who ate the middle innings and kept the Cubs off‑balance. The rest of Milwaukee’s relievers—none of whom allowed a run—combined for five shutout frames.

Chicago mirrored the tactic with 24‑year‑old right‑hander Jacob Misiorowski penciling in the bulk of the innings. Misiorowski surrendered two runs, both solo home runs, and was relieved by a trio of veterans who couldn’t halt the Brewers’ surge. In total, Chicago’s bullpen gave up three runs across the night.

The tactical chess match highlighted a league‑wide shift toward using multiple relievers in high‑leverage games. As Cubs manager David Ross reflected afterward, “We tried to ride the arms that gave us the best matchups, but the ball just didn’t bounce our way.”

Reactions from Players, Managers, and Fans

“Those three homers felt like a movie script,” said Turang in the post‑game interview. “I just knew I had to drive it out, and the crowd gave me everything.”

Contreras, still beaming, added, “Starting the game with a run always puts the pressure on the other side. I’m happy I could help set the tone for our guys.”

Ros​s, visibly disappointed, gave credit where it was due: “Seiya’s blast kept us in it. We’ll take the good moments and learn from the mistakes.” Suzuki, speaking in Japanese through a translator, nodded, “We fought hard, but the Brewers found a way to win at home.”

Fans at American Family Field turned the entire night into a sea of navy and gold, waving flags and chanting “Let’s Go Brew Crew!” The atmosphere was described by local reporter Mark Stevenson as “electric, with every swing feeling like a thunderclap.”

What This Means for the NLCS and Brewers History

Milwaukee’s 97‑65 regular‑season record—first in the NL Central—now translates into a chance to rewrite the narrative that began with the 2011 and 2018 NLCS runs. The Brewers will meet the Los Angeles Dodgers on Oct 13, 2025, in what many analysts call a rematch of the 2018 series that went seven games.

Historically, the Brewers have only reached the NLCS three times before (2011, 2018, and now 2025). Each appearance has been a stepping stone toward a long‑awaited World Series berth. “If we can keep this level of power hitting and dominate with our bullpen, the Dodgers won’t have an easy road,” said baseball analyst Jenna Meyers.

Beyond the box scores, the win sparked a citywide celebration. Bars across Milwaukee stayed open past midnight, and the team’s victory parade is slated for Oct 15, 2025, on a route that will pass the historic Miller Park district.

• Oct, 12 2025
• Maxwell Kingsdale
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• Tags:
• Brewers
• William Contreras
• Chicago Cubs
• NLDS
• home runs

Written by Maxwell Kingsdale

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