NL DIVISION SERIES: CUBS VS BREWERS

October 9, 2025

Craig Counsell

Wrigley Field

Chicago Cubs

Postgame 4 Press Conference

Cubs 6, Brewers 0

Q. Before the game you were asked about Ian. How would you describe that at-bat against a pitcher that in the regular season he's typically struggled against?

CRAIG COUNSELL: Yeah, I mean, Ian -- I'm just so happy for Ian. I think it was great for Ian to have the playoff moment that he deserved. It was a huge swing, a huge swing.

The first thing I would say, the crowd was incredible tonight. I've never seen a baseball game like that. That was just amazing what they did tonight.

Offensively we did a really nice job of putting pressure on them often, and the crowd picked up on that, I thought, consistently, and they were awesome with it.

We just made them uncomfortable. We just made every pitch uncomfortable, and that's what you're supposed to do.

Q. Craig, Kyle had two hits yesterday; had two hits and a home run and two walks today. What does it mean to hit into the lineup and just to your presence overall to have him back producing like that?

CRAIG COUNSELL: Yeah, when you see consistent pressure I think it's people like Kyle that are so good at -- every at-bat is just a hard out, a very difficult out, and that's what Kyle showed you today. Obviously he had the big swing with the home run. But on base four times.

Look, it's important. It's part of why at times this has been a really, really good offense, and he's a big part of it.

Q. Matthew giving you guys four and two-thirds scoreless, what did you see from out there today in an elimination game?

CRAIG COUNSELL: I thought the first inning was just so important tonight. Yelich draws a walk and then he makes pitches. But just getting through the first inning was to me the key for Matthew's outing.

Then as it went on, you just saw -- landing the slow breaking ball early in the count to get ahead I thought was kind of the difference, and it just puts the hitter on what Matthew is so good at, is kind of that hard-soft combination that gets the hitter in between, and landing whether it be the slow breaking ball or the changeup early let him kind of play with the hitter's timing, and he did a really nice job of it.

Q. We know that Matthew is really good pitching here; 12-1 this year at Wrigley. What part of Wrigley do you think he feeds off the most?

CRAIG COUNSELL: Yeah, I mean, you guys said that before the game. I didn't realize it was 12-1. That's pretty awesome. It's more than I thought.

I'm not sure. I think you should ask Matt that. But he delivered a great one tonight. I know it was really important to him after Game 1, how he pitched tonight, and he gave us exactly what we needed.

Danny gave kind of a mid-game save, so to speak, getting Chourio out, second and third. He put the game in order. He put the game in order. It was a job well done.

Q. Drew Pomeranz has thrown, I think, five perfect innings down this postseason. What has he meant to this team, especially in this run?

CRAIG COUNSELL: Yeah, I think Drew was the guy kind of that I thought was going to be important to this bullpen in the postseason. I think he finished the season throwing the ball really, really well. He's got the ability to turn it up a notch, and I think we've seen that in the postseason.

Lefty, righty, to me it doesn't matter right now and you're seeing that in the swings guys are taking.

The way we're running games, we need everybody. Drew has certainly become an integral cog in that kind of bullpen decisions and he's handling his innings. I think what you said is right; he's handled his innings perfectly, and that means something as well.

Q. Matt Shaw entered today hitless and for him to have -- I believe it was 2 for 3. What did you see from him today and how important is it for him to see some success at the plate?

CRAIG COUNSELL: Yeah, look, the first hit is just a hustle hit. The second hit was -- it was a tough pitch, ball, down the zone, but the kind of hit that Matt has done for us, and that's just to put the ball in play and see what happens type of hit.

But his defense is -- he's stayed in the lineup because his defense has been so darned good, and in low-scoring run environments, that's important.

But obviously offensively to make a contribution, you feel so much better going to sleep at night.

Q. What was the message to the team after tonight's win?

CRAIG COUNSELL: It was pack your bags. We get to pack our bags, man. That's all we wanted to do today was pack our bags. We get to pack our bags.

Q. Obviously winner take all come Saturday night. There's pressure, but it's also fun at the same time. Can you preview what that game will be like for everybody?

CRAIG COUNSELL: Yeah, I mean, we were in this game last week Thursday, so it's the same game. We had to fight our way to get into it, and I think the guys are fired up to pack their bags, no doubt about it.

We had to earn two hard-fought wins. We did that. Now we get the opportunity and the fun of getting to go close out a series.