July 4 - 6 Cubs @ Brewers Recap

Game 1 Brewers 5 – Cubs 2

Cubs 2, Brewers 5 (Final Score) on MLB Gameday

It’s a Walk-Off

Eric Lauer was arguably one of the best pitchers in baseball over the first two months of the season. At the end of May he was sporting a nifty 2.49 ERA with 61 strikeouts over 50 and 2/3 innings. Then the calendar flipped to June. Lauer’s ERA in five June starts was a whopping 6.83 mostly due to the eight home runs he allowed. It looked like more of the same in Game One against the Chicago Cubs as Lauer served up a tater in the top of the third to center fielder, Nelson Velasquez. It was the first MLB homer for the Cubs’ 23-year-old rookie.

But that was all Lauer would allow as he flashed the talent that dazzled early on in the season. He allowed only one more hit while walking two and striking out nine over six innings of work.

The Brewers needed Lauer to return to form as Cubs’ starter Justin Steele held the Brewers hitless until a lead-off double by Luis Urias in the fifth. After getting two outs in the sixth, Steele walked Keston Hiura who promptly stole second. Pedro Severino promptly doubled for his first hit as a Brewer driving in Hiura and tying the game.

It was still tied in the top of the night when Brewer closer Josh Hader allowed a crazy inside the park home run to Seiya Suzuki giving the Cubs a one run lead.  

Urias led off the bottom of the inning with a single on a soft fly to right. After a Victor Caratini strikeout, Keston Hiura ripped a double to left center putting runners at second and third with one out. After a Jace Peterson strikeout, Kolton Wong pinch hit for Jonathan Davis and was promptly hit in the knee by a first pitch knuckle curve. The bases were loaded for Christian Yelich who walked on four straight pitches to tie the game. Willy Adames then entered the batting box but home plate ump Stu Schuerwater expanded the outside zone by several kilometers putting him in an 0 – 2 hole before he struck out swinging.

In the top of 10^th, Brad Boxberger wiggled out of a nasty one-out bases loaded jam by first striking out Willson Contreras swinging and then getting Ian Happ looking on a 3 – 2 change to keep the score knotted entering the bottom of the inning.

With Adames playing the role of Manfred’s man on second, Andrew McCutchen flied out to lead things off. Cubs reliever Scott Effross intentionally walked Rowdy Telez to get to Luis Urias who popped out to second. Up stepped Victor Caratini who, in grand baseball tradition, atoned for a four strikeout day by launching a three-run home run to center field to win the game for Milwaukee.

Game 2 Brewers 3 – Cubs 8

Cubs 8, Brewers 3 (Final Score) on MLB Gameday

Latex Salesman Shelled

Jason Alexander diced the Cubs up in his first start of the season going seven strong and allowing only three earned runs. He was not so fortunate this time around. A Rowdy Tellex two run home run gave Alexander a cushion after one inning.

The Brewers starter allowed baserunners in each of the first four innings but was able to work out of each jam for the most part allowing only one run. The next two innings weren’t as pretty. After an error by Willy Adames put a man on, Ian Happ doubled him home. Seiya Suzuki followed that up with a first pitch home run to the bleachers in left giving the Cubs a two-run lead.

In the sixth inning, the aspiring architect gave up consecutive singles to the first two Cub batters before striking out David Bote. Rafael Ortega hit a first pitch triple to right field scoring both runners and Alexander hit the showers. Brent Suter came on in relief and walked Ian Happ with two outs. The Cubs ran the ole double steal and Ortega scored from third. It was Ortega’s third steal of home in his career. New Brewer killed Suzuki lace a single to left scoring Happ and the rout was on.

The Brewers did little else on offense only managing an additional run in the ninth. Mike Brosseau pitched though….that was neat.

Game 3 Brewers 1 – Cubs 2

Cubs 2, Brewers 1 (Final Score) on MLB Gameday

Cubs Hang One on Hader

Giving up a run is rare for Josh Hader. Giving up a run in two consecutive appearances? Unheard of. It hadn’t happened since July 10^th – 11^th of 2021 – almost a full calendar year.  But the Cubs were able to do it and in the end take the three game series from the Brewers.

The game was a pitcher’s duel for the first four innings. Brewers’ starter, and reigning Cy Young winner, Corbin Burnes was masterful once again yielding only three hits and one walk over seven innings while striking out 10. He was helped by an amazing catch in the fifth by left fielder Keston Hiura. Who says he can’t play defense?

Burnes’ counterpart on the Cubs, Adrian Sampson, was also effective going five innings without allowing a run.

In the sixth, Hiura showed he isn't just an 80 glove by crushing a two out, full count fastball to left. The 440 foot blast left his bat at 110 mph and gave the Crew a one run lead.

The Brewers were without Devin Williams as they try to manage his workload heading to the middle of the season. Brad Boxberger, who has been stellar in his own right, came on for the eighth with a one run lead. But “Box” could not hold the fort as the Cubs were able to tie it up on Christopher Morel triple followed by a Rafael Ortega single.

In the ninth, Josh Hader walked Patrick Wisdom on four straight. He struck out Nelson Velazquez and Yan Gomes but Wisdom was able to steal second and came home on a PJ Higgins double to right. The Brewers were unable to tie it up in the bottom of the inning and went home losers to the North Siders for the second game in a row.

Up Next

The Brewers take the day off on Thursday before continuing the homestand with a three-game set against the Pittsburgh Pirates.