Luis Lara Leaping Catch Preserves Brewers 4-3 Win Over Cubs

Rookie outfielder Luis Lara robbed Pedro Ramirez of a potential home run to help the Milwaukee Brewers defeat the Chicago Cubs 4-3.

The Milwaukee Brewers extended their NL Central lead over the Chicago Cubs to eight games with a 4-3 victory on Monday afternoon. Rookie outfielder Luis Lara preserved the win in the ninth inning by making a leaping catch at the right-center wall on a drive by Pedro Ramirez. The play occurred while Milwaukee held a 4-2 lead; immediately following the catch, Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a home run to bring the Cubs within one run.

Lara, who stands 5-foot-7, made the grab while playing for closer Trevor Megill. The 21-year-old outfielder is currently hitting .262 with a .696 OPS through 49 games this season. His defensive contribution followed an eighth-inning strikeout that stranded a runner on third base. The game concluded when Jackson Chourio made a diving catch on a fly ball hit by Seiya Suzuki to left field.

Since his major league debut two months ago, Lara has recorded several high-leverage defensive plays. On August 9, he caught a Kody Clemens drive against the right-field wall to prevent a Minnesota Twins run in the 10th inning of another 4-3 Brewers win. On August 21, while playing center field, he robbed Matt Olson of an extra-base hit during a 2-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

Milwaukee signed Lara to a $31 million guaranteed seven-year contract while he was still in the minor leagues, where he won a Gold Glove last year. Although he primarily played center field in the minors, he has transitioned to right field for the Brewers. The team finished Monday's contest with three natural center fielders in the grass, featuring Lara in right, Garrett Mitchell in center, and Chourio in left.