"The Cubs should have lost this series on Wednesday night. They'd lost both games in Milwaukee by wide margins despite twice getting out in front with 1st-inning homers. Their inability to play add-on, combined with Milwaukee's tremendous all-around play, made it look as though a quick series exit was but a formality. Even their Game 3 win was tenuous, with fans holding their breath until their faces were as blue as their Cubs gear."
"But it wasn't just about how the nearly 42,000 in attendance lifted up the home team; the legions of fans standing as one weighed on Brewers starter Freddy Peralta and his teammates with the pressure of a small ocean. Hearing his name chanted in Milwaukee is one thing, but the derisive nature of the cheer coming from the Cubs faithful had him rattled."
"Mind you, this is the same Brewers team that complimented its fans for making Game 1 feel like a home game. So when the sound of "Freddy! Freddy!" grew until exploding in a crescendo of delerium when Ian Happ hit a three-run homer to put his team ahead for good, it was clear which team had the upper hand. "This crowd affected the game the last two games," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said after Game 4."
The Cubs nearly faced elimination after two lopsided losses in Milwaukee despite taking early leads with first-inning homers. Matthew Boyd rebounded from a poor opener and pitched on regular rest while avoiding the heart of the zone to limit extra-base damage. Wrigley Field provided an electrifying crowd that energized the Cubs and created sustained, derisive chants that rattled Brewers starter Freddy Peralta. Ian Happ's three-run homer created a decisive lead and the collective noise and pressure from the home fans swung momentum firmly toward Chicago, affecting Milwaukee's play.
Read at Cubsinsider
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