Ian Happ hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning to help the Chicago Cubs defeat Milwaukee 5-3 on Saturday, snapping the Brewers’ five-game winning streak.
After the game, there was an incident where 11 people were injured on an escalator at the stadium. The Brewers reported that six people were taken to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, while five others received treatment at the ballpark.
Tyler Barnes, the Brewers’ senior vice president of communications and affiliate operations, explained that the escalator malfunction caused it to speed up unexpectedly.
In the eighth inning, Joel Payamps (1-4) entered the game and walked Seiya Suzuki to start the inning. Happ then hit a 1-0 pitch 394 feet to right-center field for his 11th home run of the season, which proved to be the game-winning hit.
This was the second game-deciding home run for Happ in three games, as he also hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning against San Francisco on Thursday.
Happ commented on his approach in clutch situations, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a positive mindset and believing in oneself.
After Happ’s home run, Payamps walked the next two batters before being replaced. Brewers manager Pat Murphy criticized the walks issued by Payamps, stressing that walks are unacceptable, especially in crucial situations late in the game.
Luke Little (3-1) pitched a scoreless seventh inning to earn the win for the Cubs, and Porter Hodge followed with a scoreless eighth inning. Héctor Neris allowed a hit and a walk in the ninth inning but struck out the final two batters to secure his 11th save of the season and his 100th career save.
