Cubs show grit to get back on track in extras

MILWAUKEE — Order was restored at Miller Park although it took some time; exactly five hours as a matter of fact, starting Wednesday night, ending Thursday morning.

The Chicago Cubs emerged with a 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers that required 13 innings.

“If you’re going to play that long, might as well win,” said Kris Bryant, who played left field, third base and first base, as manager Joe Maddon maneuvered through the long night.

The Cubs used 21 players; everybody but the four starting pitchers who didn’t work in this game. At the end, lefty reliever Travis Wood was twice a winner. He worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the bottom of the 12th, getting three popups, as Maddon went temporarily to a five-man infield.

Then in the top of the 13th, Wood drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in what became the deciding run. “If any game was a team victory today was,” Wood said. That was a nice sentiment from a man who was both the winning pitcher and the fellow who drove in the game-winning run.

“When he came into the game I said: ‘Understand one thing: If you get out of this, you’re getting an at-bat,’ ” Maddon said. “That jacked him up. That’s just how he operates.”

This triumph followed the only thing that has resembled a lull in the Cubs 2016 performance. The Cubs were in danger of losing three straight games for the first time this season. When your record is 27-10 coming in you have not left much room for losing streaks of any …

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