![large.0.png](https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/50cf2b5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/512x512+0+0/resize/300x300!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F_xlgCioUDnOGaVSeZXODYHXxuUQ%3D%2F512x512%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fauthor_profile_images%2F192373%2Flarge.0.png)
David Just
Contributor
Their playoff chances seemingly vanished with two swings of the bat. The 9-8 loss leaves them six games behind the first-place Cardinals and three behind the Brewers for the second wild-card spot with seven games to play.
Cubs notebook: Lester has gone 4-1 with a 2.97 ERA in his last five starts and is 6-2 with a 2.62 ERA at home.
Second strong outing since break clinches Cubs’ first series win since June 9.
Is Aaron Bummer a possible closer? Yoan Moncada returns to the lineup.
No indication when Cease will get a call-up, but an opportune time is Wednesday in a day-night doubleheader.
Contreras’ game-winning homer was his first walk-off hit. The last Cub to hit a walk-off homer in the 15th or later was Sammy Sosa in 2003.
The once-cold, now-hot and ever-changing Cubs bullpen looked different again Saturday against the Brewers.
Six relievers combined to pitch five scoreless innings to keep the Cubs in the game on the way to a 6-5 win.
Joe Maddon could barely contain his surprise that backup catcher Taylor Davis homered against Michael Wacha.