Bryant Five-for-Five in Cubs Victory

By ESPN

Kris Bryant came to the plate in the eighth inning a triple shy of the cycle. The Cubs slugger was trying for a little more.

"My last at-bat I was thinking home run," Bryant said. "There aren't too many games you can hit three home runs."

Bryant settled for an RBI single to cap a 5 for 5 day with two homers, a double and five RBI. He helped Chicago overcome a career-high seven walks by Jake Arrieta to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 9-6 Thursday for a four-game sweep.

"I don't feel like this too often," Bryant said, "This was just one of those days when I was really locked in."

Bryant tied Colorado's Nolan Arenado for the NL lead with 30 home runs.

And as the Cubs won for the 18th time in 21 games and improved the best record in the majors to 77-43, the only controversy in their jovial clubhouse is whether Bryant or teammate Anthony Rizzo is the better NL MVP candidate.

Two days after a circus catch of a foul ball, Rizzo doubled twice off Zach Davies (9-6). Rizzo has driven in 86 runs and Bryant 78.

"(Rizzo) always jokes around me saying when Miguel Cabrera won the Triple Crown, Prince Fielder was hitting behind him," Bryant said. "So he always tells me I'm his Prince. I can't say enough about having him behind me."

Indians 5, White Sox 4

When Cleveland manager Terry Francona suddenly wanted to put up a pinch-hitter in the middle of an at-bat, he knew where to get a guy.

"Tyler Naquin was sitting over there by the bat rack for a couple of days, ready to hit," Francona said. "And that's not the easiest thing to do. But we didn't have to go find him. He was ready, and it showed."

The strategy paid off Thursday night when Naquin lofted a game-ending sacrifice fly in the ninth inning that lifted the Indians over the Chicago White Sox 5-4.

"I wanted anybody to walk it off for us, so for me to be the guy to do it, it's awesome," a smiling Naquin said. "The bottom line is being ready, no matter what. So when I got the call, I said, `It's go time. Let's go."

The AL Central-leading Indians scored a single run in each of the last five innings to overtake Chicago. Cleveland improved to 6-2 on an 11-game homestand.

Abraham Almonte doubled to begin ninth off Jacob Turner (1-2). With Roberto Perez batting, a passed ball by Dioner Navarro moved Almonte to third.

Francona said he planned on having Roberto Perez -- hitting .108 -- bunt Almonte to third. Once Almonte got there, though, Francona said he wanted someone who could drive the ball to the outfield.

So Francona sent Naquin to the plate with a 1-0 count. The rookie hit the first pitch he saw to center field, deep enough that Adam Eaton couldn't prevent Almonte from scoring.

Thursday, August 18 Scoreboard

Detroit 4, Boston 3

Chicago Cubs 9, Milwaukee 6

Baltimore 13, Houston 5

Philadelphia 5, Los Angeles Dodgers 4

Cleveland 5, Chicago White Sox 4

Washington 8, Altanta 2

Cincinnati 5, Miami 4

Kansas City 8, Minnesota 1

Los Angeles Angels 6, Seattle 4

San Diego 9, Arizona 8

San Francisco 10, New York Mets 7