Milwaukee used a bullpen-forged wall to stifle Chicago in Game 5, edging the Cubs 3-1 as starter-mix and relievers shut down the Cubs’ power-first attack. Trevor Megill opened and was backed by a parade of Brewers relievers who allowed a total of four hits and one walk. Seiya Suzuki answered early with a second-inning homer to briefly tie it, but the Brewers bullpen locked it down the rest of the way, and Andrew Vaughn’s solo shot proved decisive in a game Cubs couldn’t rally from their slow-starting, homer-reliant offense.

Over the series, Chicago leaned on home runs and fast starts, but Milwaukee’s pitching staff—Misiorowski, Ashby, Patrick, Uribe, and Megill—restricted the Cubs’ baserunners and held them without scoring after the third inning. The Cubs’ 92-70 surprise season ends on a sour note after a stretch where a large share of their postseason runs came from the long ball, and Milwaukee moves on with a dominant bullpen performance and timely hitting.

With a win in the decisive game, Milwaukee made a statement about its depth and postseason versatility, while Chicago exits a year of breakout strides with questions about next-season offense and approach. Counsell’s crew capped a series that underscored the power of elite pitching and situational execution in the NLDS.