MILWAUKEE -- There was a moment early on Monday night when the blueprint for the Cubs’ offense was on full display. Nico Hoerner slashed a pitch from Brewers lefty Aaron Ashby into right field for a single. Kyle Tucker worked a walk. And then Seiya Suzuki launched a baseball nearly to Bernie Brewer’s famous slide well beyond the left-field wall.

It was a furious sequence in the first inning of Game 2 of the National League Division Series that hushed the raucous home crowd, giving the Cubs faithful on hand their chance to break through with a collective roar. Shota Imanaga had a burst of run support and Chicago had the type of early momentum it badly needed in this intense series.

And then the Brewers put the Cubs on the brink of elimination.

The home run woes that have followed

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