CHICAGO -- Matt Shaw’s intention was to lay down a bunt, but the fastball from Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski buzzed in at 100.1 mph, veering high and tight and resulting in a foul ball that was more survival than sacrifice attempt. It began a battle that, at one point, had Misiorowski even smiling on the mound.
In the third inning on Wednesday night, Shaw and Misiorowski engaged in an 11-pitch confrontation that ended with the Cubs rookie drawing a walk to load the bases. It was a moment that led to the moment -- Michael Busch’s three-run double to help the Cubs pull off a 4-3 win over the rival Brewers.
Shaw slid across the plate head-first as the Wrigley Field crowd roared -- a satisfying result after his exhausting plate appearance against Misiorowski.
“That’s huge,” Shaw said. “One of the most exciting moments, I think, in the last month or so was Buschy hitting that double. The emotion that went into everything in that inning. And playing the Brewers. I think it was just a really cool moment, and I think the fans responded to that, too.”
With the victory, the North Siders improved to 7-5 on the season against the National League Central-leading Brewers, giving Chicago a win of the season series and, in turn, the first tiebreaker against Milwaukee if the division were to end in a deadlock. The Cubs have won five of their last six games, trimming the Brewers’ lead atop the division to six games.
Shaw was in the middle of everything.
Not only did Shaw work that important free pass, but the rookie third baseman also launched a solo homer in the eighth that proved critical given the Brewers rally attempt in the ninth. The home run was Shaw’s 11th of the season. Nine have come since the All-Star break -- a period in which he has hit .302 with a 1.065 OPS.
Shaw also pulled off an impressive defensive play in the sixth inning.
“It was a brilliant play,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said.
“Incredible,” Cubs starter Colin Rea said.
“One of the better plays I've seen this year,” Busch said.
With the Cubs up 3-1 in the sixth, Rea had one out and a runner on first base. Rea fired a fastball up-and-in to Milwaukee’s Anthony Seigler, who got the bat up in time to push a strong bunt up the third-base line.
“It was a great bunt,” said Rea, who worked 5 2/3 innings in the win. “As soon as I looked over, I didn’t see anyone, so in my head I’m thinking base hit. And then Shaw comes out of nowhere.”
Shaw raced in from the edge of the infield grass, chased down the ball and plucked it from the ground with his bare right hand. On the run and hunched over, Shaw was able to plant, jump and get off a throw, which Busch snared on a hop at first base.
“Really,” Busch added, “anything over there right now, we have the confidence that he’s going to make the play, if not make it really close.”
“Kind of a do-or-die play,” Shaw said. “You’ve just got to kind of trust your athleticism.”
The Cubs knocked the 23-year-old Misiorowski out after four innings, but all the damage arrived in the third. Rookie Owen Caissie and shortstop Dansby Swanson each drew a walk, setting up Shaw’s draining battle that packed the bases full of Cubs.
“That was a heck of an at-bat,” Counsell said. “It’s where we put Misiorowski on the ropes.”
Shaw tried to bunt twice within the first four pitches, but was unable to cleanly knock one of Misiorowski’s high-and-tight heaters fair. The Cubs rookie went on to foul off five more pitches, including four in a row at one point. That is when the Brewers rookie pitcher could not help but crack a smile.
Misiorowski sent five fastballs -- all between 99-101 mph -- Shaw’s way. He spun four sliders. The right-hander sent six pitches up and in and tried to get the Cubs third baseman to chase a few low and outside.
“You’ve seen everything at that point in the at-bat,” Shaw said. “You’ve just kind of got to refresh and really just continue to grind out the at-bat. Sometimes you start to kind of guess what he might do, and that kind of gets you in swing mode. So just being up there and just kind of, really, just battling.”
The first 10 pitches only featured one curveball. Misiorowski tried another on pitch No. 11, which travelled too far inside for the game-changing walk.
“That’s just winning pitches,” Counsell said. “He just kept winning pitches and spoiling good pitches. And just gave himself another chance to fight consistently.”
And Shaw gave the Cubs a chance to pick up another important victory.
“That was a fun game to be a part of,” Busch said.