Christopher Morel

With Trevor Megill presumably unavailable for workload reasons after converting a pair of saves over the last three days, Payamps got the call to protect a one-run lead in the final frame after William Contreras put Milwaukee ahead in the top of the ninth. He struck out Christopher Morel and Dansby Swanson to open the frame before getting Mike Tauchman to fly out to preserve the victory.

Tauchman returns after missing about a month with a groin strain. Alexander Canario was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move. Tauchman's absence opened up regular playing time in centerfield for Pete Crow-Armstrong. Now the Cubs are back to having four spots for Tauchman, Crow-Armstrong, Christopher Morel, Seiya Suzuki, and Ian Happ. Tauchman is hitting .259 with five home runs, 19 RBI and five steals in 220 at-bats this year.

Morel went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Cardinals.

It's safe to say St. Louis Cardinals broadcaster Jim Edmonds isn't a fan of players celebrating home runs against the home team. The former player-turned-analyst voiced his displeasure when Chicago Cubs designated hitter Christopher Morel relished hitting his second home run of the game in the eighth inning off Andrew Kittredge. "[Christopher Morel's] celebration is a joke. I don't mind saying it at all. I've never seen anything like it... You're a .229 hitter... and you're running around like you're Barry Bonds." - Jim EdmondsOn the fan that caught it: "He's also taking up plenty of room out there..." pic.twitter.com/htFXqljWzB Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 14, 2024 "You're a .229 hitter, and you're running around like you're Barry Bonds," Edmonds remarked.He proceeded to insult the fan who caught the home run ball, suggesting the person was "taking up plenty of room out there." Morel entered Sunday's game hitting .199 with a .669 OPS. The 25-year-old has nonetheless been a consistent power threat for the Cubs, with his two homers against St. Louis running his season total up to 18.Edmonds, meanwhile, slashed .284/.376/.527 across a 17-year MLB career that included eight seasons with the Cardinals. Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Cubs, who have won six of their last eight, recorded back-to-back homers in the fifth and eighth innings