Cubs beat Brewers 4-3 in 10 innings, win series finale
DIRECT ANSWER: The Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 in 10 innings on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at American Family Field, winning the series rubber match. Aaron Ashby's wild pitch tied it 1-1 in the seventh, Joel Kuhnel surrendered three runs in the 10th, and Gary Sánchez grounded into a bases-loaded double play to end Milwaukee's rally.
Key Takeaways
- The Cubs took the series finale at American Family Field despite Matt Shaw starting on the bench.
- Brandon Woodruff threw 5⅔ shutout innings, but the Brewers went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
- Joel Kuhnel allowed three runs with two outs in the 10th, including 11 consecutive balls at one point.
- Milwaukee still reached 50 wins at the season's mathematical halfway point—a franchise first-half record.
- The Brewers entered seeking a 7.5-game NL Central cushion; the Cubs cut into that margin with the road win.
Why did the Cubs tie the game in the seventh inning?
With Milwaukee leading 1-0 on a Gary Sánchez solo homer, Brandon Woodruff exited after 5⅔ scoreless innings and six strikeouts. Aaron Ashby took over and immediately walked Ian Happ. Nico Hoerner singled to center, putting runners on first and third.
With Matt Shaw pinch-hitting, Ashby spiked his first pitch about five feet in front of the plate for a wild pitch that scored Happ and tied the game at 1-1. Ashby later balked with Hoerner far off second, leaving the go-ahead run 90 feet away. Abner Uribe replaced Ashby and escaped the jam with a strikeout of Pedro Ramírez and a flyout by Dansby Swanson.
How did Joel Kuhnel lose the game in the 10th?
The game was still tied 1-1 when extra innings began. Kuhnel opened the 10th with a groundout that advanced the automatic runner to third, then struck out Dansby Swanson. Milwaukee intentionally walked Pete Crow-Armstrong, but Kuhnel hit Alex Bregman to load the bases.
Michael Busch walked on four pitches to force in the go-ahead run. Seiya Suzuki followed with a two-run single to left, pushing Chicago ahead 4-1. Kuhnel threw 11 consecutive balls during the meltdown. Milwaukee nearly answered—Christian Yelich singled, Jackson Chourio walked, Brice Turang singled, and Garrett Mitchell walked to make it 4-3—but Gary Sánchez ended it with a 5-4-3 double play.
Why was Matt Shaw on the bench to start Sunday?
CBS Sports reported Shaw was out of the Cubs' starting lineup for the series finale after starting the first two games against Milwaukee. He went 1-for-4 with two walks and two runs in those outings. Michael Conforto started in right field and batted seventh instead.
Shaw still factored into the pivotal seventh inning as a pinch-hitter against Ashby—the at-bat when the tying wild pitch occurred. For more on how data and broadcast tech are reshaping rivalry coverage this summer, see our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub.
What did the Brewers need from Brandon Woodruff?
Before first pitch, Brew Crew Ball framed Sunday as a rubber match with Milwaukee at 50-30 and Chicago at 45-38. The Brewers sought a series win and a chance to build a 7.5-game division lead at game 81 of 162. Woodruff, returning from a six-week IL stint, delivered again: 5⅔ shutout frames in his second start since June 22.
Ryan Rolison opposed Woodruff for the Cubs in his second start of 2026 after a 1.82 ERA across 25 appearances. Chicago leaned on its bullpen amid rotation injuries, but the Cubs' relief corps held long enough for the road victory. Full details are in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel recap.