The Cubs stranded 16 runners, matching the major league high for a nine-inning game this season.
“We left a small farming village in central Illinois worth of runners on base, but we played good offense,” said Cubs manager Craig Counsell. “We were just missing that next hit, but getting those extra runs in the ninth was definitely important.”
Chicago (76-73), having lost seven of its last 11 games, entered the day six games behind Atlanta and the New York Mets for the final NL wild card. The Mets lost to Philadelphia.
Busch delivered a go-ahead RBI single in the third inning, followed by solo home runs in the seventh off Jake Bird and in the ninth against Justin Lawrence, bringing his season total to 20. He went 6-for-10 with three home runs and seven RBIs in the series.
Busch’s first homer traveled 438 feet, and the second—a career-long—went 468 feet, both landing in the second deck in right field.
“I’m just trying to stay aggressive, trust my eyes, and stick to my approach, whether I’m ahead or behind in the count,” Busch said.
