Slightly more than two years ago, the Chicago Cubs experienced an offensive siesta that eventually allowed the Milwaukee Brewers to overtake them for the National League Central title.
Similar symptoms resurfaced this season throughout the top of the batting order and had spread to a lineup-filled illness through 17 innings this weekend.
The Cubs, however, found a cure quickly and dramatically against Brewers reliever Josh Hader.
Javier Baez and pinch-hitter Anthony Rizzo set the stage with consecutive singles before Jason Heyward belted a three-run home run, and Ildemaro Vargas followed with a solo shot to give the Cubs a 4-2 victory at Miller Park.
Before their ninth-inning heroics, the Cubs had mustered only six hits and two walks while striking out 27 times in two games against the Brewers and were about to waste a sterling pitching performance from Kyle Hendricks, who tossed 7 2/3 innings of six-hit ball but allowed a two-run home run to Ryan Braun in the fourth.
Hendricks extended his franchise record of allowing two walks or less to 39 consecutive starts, but he had no margin for error because of a feeble offense.
Jason Adam retired Christian Yelich to finish the eighth and earn the win. Craig Kimbrel allowed two singles but retired the next three batters to earn his first save since Aug. 19 against the Cardinals and 348th of his career.
Brent Suter, Freddy Peralta, Eric Yardley, Alex Claudio and Devin Williams harnessed the Cubs for eight innings.
Baez returned to the lineup after not starting Friday, and he perfectly executed a hit-and-run play by hitting a single to right-center in the fourth that advanced Kyle Schwarber to third base.
But Peralta struck out David Bote on a curve to end the threat.
Suter started in place of Brett Anderson, who was scratched because of right hip tightness.
Suter set an ominous tone for the Cubs by striking out the side in the first inning. Bryant, in one of his worst at-bats since striking out three times against James Shields in his major league debut in 2015, chased two change-ups considerably outside of the strike zone to complete a three-pitch strikeout.
Suter, whose fastball tops out in the high 80-mph range, has struck out 11 in his last 5 2/3 innings against the Cubs.
The Cubs made lineup changes before Anderson was scratched. Rizzo, in a 3-for-30 slump, was given a rest after starting in 45 of the first 46 games.
Cameron Maybin was scheduled to start in left field but was scratched after feeling ill late Friday.
Bryant moved from third base to first, but his inability to catch a foul pop near the stands with two outs in the fourth hurt the Cubs.
Braun hit the next pitch well over the center-field fence for a two-run home run.
Hendricks retired the next 12 batters until he allowed a single to Avisail Garcia with two outs in the eighth and was pulled after throwing a season-high 106 pitches.
