Recap: Cubs 4, Brewers2

Winning Pitcher: Marcus Hatley

Losing Pitcher: Mike Fiers

GameDay/Box

The first inning was rather uneventful. Marco Estrada opened the game for the Brewers. He went three up, three down first inning where he got batters to ground out, fly out, and pop up. The ground out was fielded nicely by Mark Reynolds at first base. Third baseman Juan Francisco also made a nice play catching a pop-up in front of the tarp. Eric Jokisch started the game for the Cubs. In their half of the inning Ryan Braun drew a walk, but that would be it for the Brewers.

In the second inning Marco Estrada met one of the Cubs top prospects. Javier Baez was more than happy to introduce him to his monster power by launching a home run into right center. Aaron Cunnigham would follow that up with a single. He would then be caught stealing. Credit Jean Segura with a nice pick of a bounced throw from Martin Maldonado. Estrada would give up one more single before ending the inning with a fly out. In their half of the inning Sean Halton drew a walk, but that would be it for the Brewers.

In this his second start, Marco Estrada would stretch out for a third inning. He sandwiched a base hit between a ground out, and two pop-ups. That would end his day after 47 pitches. The Brewers would go three up, three down.

Estrada would be replaced by Will Smith in the fourth inning. He struck out the first batter before giving up a bloop single to Javier Baez. The Brewers had a chance at a double play but were only able to get the lead runner as the throw from Jean Segura to first was a little off the mark. Smith then allowed a double but got out of the inning without giving up a run. In his second plate appearance Ryan Braun would lead-off with a scorching double to center field. Luis Valbuena would rob Carlos Gomez of extra bases by making a nice stab at a line drive. Mark Reynolds was unable to advance Braun with a lazy fly to right field. Juan Francisco would get the job done with a jam shot to shallow center. Braun scored and Francisco would take second on an ill advised throw to home plate. Noticably absent in his at-bat was the big leg kick from Francisco. Instead he used a quick toe-tap. Perhaps this is a sign of improvement from him. Sean Halton and Martin Maldonado would follow that up with back-to-back walks to load the bases. Elian Herrera would end the threat with a strike out.

Brandon Kintzler struggled a bit in the fifth inning. Ryan Roberts hit a two out single. The Cubs would then retake the lead on an RBI double from Valbuena. Junior Lake was able to draw a walk. The damage would end there though with a ground out from Baez. The Cubs sent out pitcher Wesley Wright who mowed down Jean Segura and Scooter Gennett before giving up a single to Braun. Braun would be pinch run for by Kentrail Davis. He scored from first on a double from Carlos Gomez. The inning would end on a ground out by Mark Reynolds.

Rule 5 pick Wei-Chung Wang (pronounced Wong) debuted in the sixth. He struck out the first two batters and got the third to weakly fly out. Wang has four more weeks to convince Ron Roenicke he deserves a spot on the major league roster. If he continues to have these sorts of outings he just might do it. Juan Francisco lead off with a double that just missed being a home run. With two outs, Herrera was able to come back from two strikes to draw a walk. The inning would end on a flyout from Hector Gomez.

Mike Fiers entered the game in the seventh inning. It was a mixed bag. The first two batters reached with singles. The next two batters struck out. The next batter drew a walk to load the bases. Two runs would score on a double from Walter Ibarra. That would be it though as the final batter popped out. Mitch Haniger drew a two out walk but that was it for the Brewers.

Jose De La Torre pitched a clean eighth inning. He got a strike out, fly out, and a strike out in that order. Taylor Green made his debut at the plate and got hit on his left elbow by the first pitch. He advanced on a grounder off the bat of Jason Rogers. He would go no further though.

Michael Blazek would finish out the game for the Brewers. Blazek issued a walk to the first batter but Cameron Garfield would throw him out attempting to steal second base. The next batter struck out. The inning ended on a nice play by Green who was able to charge in on a weak grounder at third and fire a throw to beat the runner at first. For the Brewers, Hector Gomez was able to draw a walk and later took second on fielder's indifference. The Brewers were unable to drive him in though and the Cubs would win 4 to 2.