With the Brewers are playing what may be their most important series in 15 years, we figured it would be a good idea to provide a little in-game coverage of the action from Wrigley Field. Refresh your browser for updates.

TOP OF THE FIRST

The stats package and keys to the game used before a broadcast usually are never earth-shaking and seldom even noteworthy. But, the fact that the Brewers' starters have a combined 5.55 earned run average since the break certainly is revealing. Jeff Suppan needs to buck that trend tonight.

Brewers announcers Brian Anderson and Bill Schroeder are talking about how the flags are blowing straight out at Wrigley tonight. The first thing everybody does after walking through the catacomb-like tunnel from the visitor's clubhouse to the dugout is check the flags. When they wind is blowing out, hitters get pumped and pitchers cower. A stiff breeze blowing out can make Wrigley play like a little league park. A breeze blowing in can make it into Yellowstone. Here's the rub, though: a lot of times you go into a game expecting a version of Home Run Derby and the pitchers will keep the ball down and rule the day. We'll see if that happens tonight.

Rickie Weeks opens the game against lefty Rich Hill, a 6-5 beanpole with a big curve and a sneaky-quick fastball. After looking at 2-2 curveball that should have been called strike three, Weeks strikes out on a pitch that catches the outside corner. Hill should have been credited with two strikeouts.

Corey Hart, who is tall enough (6-7) to give Hill a good run in basketball, takes a called third strike and Prince Fielder chases a high fastball to give Hill three strikeouts for the inning (four if you count Weeks twice).

BOTTOM OF THE FIRST
No score

Alfonso Soriano is back in the leadoff spot for the Cubs. He was out three weeks with a quadriceps tear, but he didn't need a rehab stint and actually came back early. When was the last time a Brewers player accomplished that?

Suppan gets Soriano and Ryan Theriot to ground out and jumps ahead of Derrek Lee with a first-pitch breaking ball before getting him on a called third strike. To use one of Ned Yost's favorite phrases, Suppan appears to be "on the attack" tonight. This is no time to lay back. The Brewers gave Suppan $42 million to pitch in games like this.

TOP OF THE SECOND
No score

As rookie of the year candidate Ryan Braun steps in, Schroeder mentions that third baseman had an impressive batting practice session. Like the flags at Wrigley, that can be deceiving. I've talked to dozens of players after stellar offensive games and had them tell me "I stunk in B.P. today."

Braun strikes out on a fastball that appears to be about eye level.

Kevin Mench, getting a start because he usually feasts on lefties, singles to left. Soriano chases the ball down with no apparent problems.

As Hill works from the stretch, it's instructive to point out that the catchers in this game - Chicago's Jason Kendall and Milwaukee's Johnny Estrada - are among the worst in baseball at throwing out runners. Neither team relies a lot on the running game, though.

Bill Hall strikes out on a fastball down the middle. Estrada pops up.

BOTTOM OF THE SECOND
No score

Aramis Ramirez opens the inning with a single up the middle. Fortunately for Estrada, Ramirez runs like a catcher and isn't really a threat to steal.

With Cliff Floyd is at the plate, Estrada sets up on the outside corner for a couple pitches and Suppan's deliveries end up inside. Those are things that can bury a pitcher in a hurry.

Floyd flies out to Hall and Mark DeRosa, usually a Brewers killer, bounces into a double play.

TOP OF THE THIRD
No score

J.J. Hardy reaches on an infield single. The Brewers haven't gotten many breaks lately. Maybe this will be one.

Suppan, one of the better bunters on the staff, gets a sacrifice down to move Hardy into scoring position. Weeks slaps a hanging curveball for a base hit, putting runners at the corners for Hart.

Hart, a flyball hitter, sails a sacrifice fly to right to bring home the game's first run. Weeks alertly tags and moves to second, which is a testament to his speed and the savvy of first base coach Ed Sedar. The Brewers have scored one of those "small ball" runs that fans have been screaming for. Prince Fielder hits a ball right into the teeth of the Cubs' shift to end the inning.

BOTTOM OF THE THIRD
Brewers 1, Cubs 0

Earlier this year, Cubs fans wanted to run Jacque Jones out of town. The team tried to trade him and he seemed miserable. Recently, he's been of the hotter hitters on the club. The former USC star, who played in college with Geoff Jenkins, hits a leadoff single and takes second when Jason Kendall squeezes a hit through the hole at short.

Much like the Brewers, the Cubs face a bunt situation with their pitcher at the plate. Unlike Suppan, Hill doesn't come through. He strikes out and Suppan wriggles out of the jam.

In playoff-type games, mistakes in execution become critical.

TOP OF THE FOURTH
Brewers 1, Cubs 0

Braun singles to right. It's nice to see a young slugger with home-run power who is not pull happy.

Mench strikes out. Just when you're wondering if the Braun will try to steal, Hall bounces into an inning-ending double play.

BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH
Brewers 1, Cubs 0

Lee is a scary figure at the plate. His flyotu to deep center is scary, too. So much for that 12 mph wind helping homers.

Ramirez grounds to second and Weeks makes one of the better defensive plays of the season. He ranges to the shortstop side of the bag, gobbles the grounder and throws out Cliff Floyd.

TOP OF THE FIFTH
Brewers 1, Cubs 0

Hardy doubles with one out and moves to third on a grounder by Suppan. (No need to sacrifice with one out and the runner already in scoring position).

Hill drills Weeks with a pitch. Weeks got smoked 19 times last year, but the bruise from Hill is only his 10th this season. (Maybe needs to expand that part of his game).

Weeks takes off on a pitch to Corey Hart and steals second, eliminating the chance for a double play. Hart, who seldom grounds into double plays, bloops a two-run single to left-center.

Fielder pops out to end the inning.

BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH
Brewers 3, Cubs 0

The Brewers have lost 13 games this season in which they led by three runs. That stat strikes a chord when Kendall strokes a two-out double to left and Hill singles him home. Brewers pitchers seemingly can't stand prosperity.

Suppan ends the inning without further damage.

TOP OF THE SIXTH
Brewers 3, Cubs 1

Some pitchers get tired after hitting and being on the bases. Hill breezes through the sixth with two strikeouts.

BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH
Brewers 3, Cubs 1

Suppan is in a groove, but Lee is one of the better hitters in the game and strokes a one-out single to right. Suppan erases him with a double-play grounder to Ramirez. With the pitcher's turn coming up, it'll be interesting to see if Ned Yost lets Suppan throw another inning.

TOP OF THE SEVENTH
Brewers 3, Cubs 1

Hardy hits a one-out single, his third hit of the night. Suppan is allowed to hit and moves the runner to second base. That sets up Weeks, probably the hottest hitter in the Milwaukee lineup during this trip, and he strikes out to end the inning.

BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH
Brewers 3, Cubs 1

Suppan heads out to the seventh, an inning he has visited far too seldom this season. The Brewers needed a strong start tonight and he has delivered so far. With Scott Linebrink and Brian Shouse warming up in the bullpen, Yost won't let Suppan have a very long leash.

Suppan hits Cliff Floyd with a 1-2 pitch.

Sure enough, that's it. Scott Linebrink comes in. The Brewers signed Suppan to pitch in big games; they traded three prospects to San Diego so Linebrink could do the same.

Mark DeRosa reaches on an infield hit. The Cubs have two men on and nobody out. The storm clouds are looming. Linebrink has a heavy sinker and he'll probably need a double play to avoid a meltdown.

Jones hammers a two-run double to center. Tie game. Man on second. Nobody out. If Linebrink can't strand Jones, the Brewers are in trouble. 

Jason Kendall flies to right. Jones doesn't try to advance. The Cubs send Daryle Ward to hit for Hill. The Brewers could send for Shouse, but they probably aren't keen on the idea of him facing Soriano. Linebrink will need to be careful.

After falling behind, Linebrink walks Ward to set up a potential double play.  That's not a bad idea, all things considered. It looks even better when Soriano flies out for out number two. 

 Disaster... Linebrink throws a 1-2 pitch to Theriot, who hits a chopper that Linebrink can't field. The go-ahead run scores. The Cubs have men at first and second and Lee is at the plate.

 Linebrink falls behind Lee, 2-0. Not a good start.

After a called strike, Lee hammers a double to score two more runs. Linebrink is done for the night. Seth McClung takes over. Maybe the Padres knew something about Linebrink when they made that trade? 

McClung fans Ramirez to end the inning. But, the damage is done. If the Brewers go on to lose, Linebrink will be the goat. It's becoming apparent why the Padres traded him. He might be a great clubhouse guy, but his arm might be out of gas.

TOP OF THE EIGHTH
Cubs 5, Brewers 3

Bobby Howry is on the mound for Chicago. The Cubs bullpen, a laughingstock earlier this year, has emerged as a lockdown unit in the second half. The Brewers need baserunners if they want to avoid blowing a three-run lead for the 14th time this year.  

Corey Hart strikes out swinging, but Prince Fielder flares a ball into left for a hit.

Ryan Braun strikes out, bringing up Mench. With Jenkins and Gabe Gross on the bench, Yost lets Mench hit.

Good move. Howry hits Mench with a pitch. That puts two men on for Bill Hall...

Or does it?

Yost sends Gross to pinch-hit for Hall. Desperate times call for desperate measures. This isn't a time to worry about a player's psyche. It's a time to try to win the game. Gross has been hot since his return to the minors and he's not afraid to take a walk.

Howry and Gross are locked in an epic battle. Gross fouls off some tough mid-90s fastballs and the drama builds with each one. In the 12th pitch of the at-bat,  Gross hits a blooper to De Rosa. The Brewers are three outs from a disheartening loss. 

BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH
Cubs 5, Brewers 3

Seth  McClung warms up to start the eighth, but doesn't throw a pitch. The managerial chess match is in full swing. When Mike Fontenot comes up, Yost brings in Shouse. Lou Piniella counters with Craig Monroe, a righty acquired from Detroit. 

Shouse strikes out Monroe, then does the same to De Rosa and Jones. Shouse has been the Brewers' most reliable pitcher for weeks. Linebrink has been anything but. The Brewers will send the bottom of their order to face closer Ryan Dempster. 

TOP OF THE NINTH
Cubs 5, Brewers 3

The Brewers need a miracle against Dempster, a pitcher that many thought was finished because of elbow trouble a few years ago.

Dempster strikes out Estrada on a changeup. The Brewers have fanned a dozen times in one of their bigger games of the season.

Hardy steps in against Dempster and Geoff Jenkins walks to the on-deck circle. Jenkins, who is playing a meaningful late-August series for the first time, could be entering his final month with the Brewers. 

Hardy flies out to right. The Brewers are down to their last out.

It's 1-2 to Jenkins. The Brewers are a strike away from their fifth straight loss, which would put them below .500 for the first time since April. And, they'll be 2 1/2 games out of first place and probably looking up at the Cardinals. 

Jenkins strikes out.

It's up to Sheets and the rest of the Brewers to find a way to salvage their season in the next two nights. If the Brewers get swept, the Ned Yost death watch will begin.  

  CUBS 5, BREWERS 3