Jesse RogersOct 4, 2025, 07:34 PM ETCloseJesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.Follow on X
Brewers tie franchise record with 6 runs in 1st (1:15)Milwaukee ties a franchise record for most runs scored in a postseason inning with six in the first. (1:15)
Most of the damage came against Cubs starter Matthew Boyd, who didn’t look sharp while pitching on three days’ rest, lasting just eight batters.
“It’s unfortunate it was such a big inning, but that was the difference in the game today,” Boyd said after the Brewers’ 9-3 victory.
At that point, Cubs manager Craig Counsell had seen enough, pulling Boyd after 30 pitches, four hits and a walk. Boyd was eventually charged with six runs, but only two were earned after a Nico Hoerner error opened the inning up for the Brewers.
Over the past 30 postseasons, starting pitchers on three days of rest have a 4.50 ERA, according to ESPN Research.
“We’re very comfortable — I was very comfortable — putting Matt Boyd on the mound today. The whole organization was comfortable putting Matt Boyd on the mound today.”
Coming into the game, Boyd had limited experience pitching on three days, compiling a 4.70 ERA in three career games before Saturday. Against the Brewers in Game 1, he posted some of his worst numbers of the season, including landing only 43% of his pitches in the strike zone, his lowest rate of the year. Boyd also induced a 60% swing rate by the Brewers, his second highest of the season.
Perkins added: “I’m kind of sitting there, too, like dang, how are we doing this sometimes? It’s a cool feeling, and it’s really fun to be a part of.”
The time off between the regular season and the postseason didn’t impact Milwaukee’s offense, though the time on the mound during the previous round seemingly impacted Boyd. He struggled down the stretch of the regular season as well, compiling a 5.31 ERA in September, by far his worst month of the season.
The Brewers added three more runs in the second inning, sending reliever Mike Soroka to the showers after a shortened outing, forcing former Brewer Aaron Civale to pick up the slack, pitching 4⅓ innings. It might be the only positive after an awful day for the Cubs: They saved their pen for another day.
Brewers tie franchise record with 6 runs in 1st (1:15)Milwaukee ties a franchise record for most runs scored in a postseason inning with six in the first. (1:15)
Milwaukee ties a franchise record for most runs scored in a postseason inning with six in the first. (1:15)
“Aaron’s outing, really, really saved us,” Counsell said.
CloseJesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.Follow on X