Brewers shortstop Hernan Perez Greets Curtis Granderson after Granderson's home run in the ninth inning Wednesday night at Wrigley Field.(Photo: European Press Agency)

CHICAGO – Have a game, Curtis Granderson.

The 15-year veteran, acquired by the Milwaukee Brewers just prior to the Aug. 31 trading deadline, paid huge dividends in a huge time on Wednesday night at Wrigley Field.

One of the most popular of the cycle, providing some much-needed offensive spark in helping the Brewers past the Chicago Cubs, 5-1, in the final teams' final-season meeting of 2018.

Granderson just missed a first-to-none, providing breathing room. Mike Moustakas then provided the finishing blow with a two-RBI single.

BOX SCORE: Brewers 5, Cubs 1

Milwaukee cut Chicago's lead in the Central Division to the St. Louis Cardinals in the wild-card standings to 2 1/2 games.

The Brewers were holding a 2-1 lead when Granderson went deep into Steve Cishek's center. It was the second homer in a Brewers uniform for Granderson, and the first homer hit by either team in the three-game series.

Brandon Kintzler replaced by Christian Yelich, Lorenzo Cain Travis Shaw.

With Moustakas due up, Joe Maddon's manager Cubs went to Brian Duensing. Moustakas greeted by Yelich and Cain to make it 5-1.

Jeremy Jeffress pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to finish the game.

The game got off to a strange start when Granderson lifted a long ball back to the front of the field.

Eric Cooper – the 48th leadoff Gary Cooper – the 48th leadoff – Gary Cederstrom lasting 1 minute 17 seconds.

Albert Almora, Jr. But Shaw struck out and Moustakas grounded out sharply against the shift, leaving the Brewers to settle for the lone run.

Anderson walked in to the first and second to the next to the .056-hitting Hendricks was able to work around the Cubs off the board.

MIlwaukee then used three consecutive one-out singles from Granderson, Yelich and Cain to load the bases in the third, with Shaw driving in Granderson with a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.

Anderson struck out a pair in the bottom of the third and the fourth. Tyler Saladino with his pitch count at 71.

Jacob Barnes took over for Anderson and immediately found himself in trouble. Tommy La Stella, pinch-hitting for Hendricks, feels a grounder to the right side that Hernan Perez is fielded but then threw away.

The Core of the Core of a Corey, then Corey Knebel, Kris Bryant, who is one of the two leaders of the world.

Knebel had retired all 16 batters he'd been facing AAA Colorado Springs on Sept. 2 prior to Bryant's hit.

The Brewers got a run at third in the sixth, Eric Thames was caught looking, Cain flew out and Jesús Aguilar striuck out, respectively.

Josh Hader (6-1) came on and struck out Bryant and Anthony Rizzo on a total of seven pitches to start the Cubs' eighth, giving him eight consecutive strikeouts against Chicago's batters dating to Monday.

Ben Zobrist singled to snap the streak, then Hader recovered to fan Javy Báez and send the game to the ninth with the Brewers still nursing their one-run lead.

FIVE TAKEAWAYS

TOUGH BREAK: Following the game, the Cubs were in Washington, D.C., where they were scheduled to play a game against the Nationals at 2:05 pm on Thursday. After that game, they'll fly back to Chicago with a night game against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday to a stretch of 30 consecutive work days.

"That's tough scheduling, for sure," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "But it also means that they have gotten a break with some parts of the schedule. Maybe not planned rest, but still got some rest. We had our challenges before and after the all-star break, and it probably took a toll on us at some point. You know it's part of the schedule, that you're going to have tough moments."

LOOKING GOOD: With his next start, Jhoulys Chacín will be tied to his career at 32. He's also 21 innings away from tying another career high. Counsell said he is not concerned about his workload, however.

"I think Jhoulys is in a great spot," he said, "He's throwing the ball well." Pitch counts, he threw 75 pitches last He's really well-equipped for it, I think. "

CHANGE IS COMING: With a look at his rotation, he said it would be for the Brewers' upcoming weekend series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Miller Park. They listed Gio Gonzalez, Zach Davies and Wade MIley as their likely starters coming into Wednesday.

"We're going to have some changes this weekend," he said.

SHUCKERS EVEN: Right-hander Braden Webb tossed six shutout innings and struck out seven to lead AA Class Biloxi over host Jackson, 7-0, in Game 1 of the Southern League Championship Series on Tuesday night. Jackson then turned the tables against Biloxi, beating the Shuckers and Southern League pitcher Zack Brown, 7-3, in Game 2 on Wednesday. The series resumes Friday in Biloxi, with the Shuckers hosting the final three games of the best-of-five.

THE BEAT GOES ON: Yelich's third-inning single extended-base streak to 28 consecutive games, which leads the National League. Houston's Alex Bregman is the major-league leader, having reached in 39 straight games.

RECORD

This year: 84-63

Last year: 78-69

COMING UP

Thursday: Off day.

Friday: Brewers vs. Pirates, 7:10 pm Milwaukee LHP Gio Gonzalez (1-0, 0.00) vs. Pittsburgh RHP Chris Archer (4-7, 4.56). TV: FS Wisconsin. Radio: AM-620.