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Winning Pitcher: Kyle Lohse (5-1)
Losing Pitcher: Jeff Samardzija (0-4)
SV: Francisco Rodriguez (17)
The Cubes were in full effect in the early goings. Two errors in the first inning resulted in a Jonathan Lucroy RBI and then a run scored. Then in the second inning a passed ball allowed runners to advance to second and third for Jean Segura who drove them both in with a line drive single. The Brewers took an early 4-2 lead.
Kyle Lohse ran into a some problems in the 2nd inning. He allowed a base hit to Nate Shierholtz and then a home run to, of all people, Darwin Barney. He also gave up a hit to Jeff Samardzija but Emilio Bonafacio hit into an inning ending double play. The damage was done though and the Cubs cut the Brewers lead to 4-2.
The Brewers didn't score a run in the third, but the Cubes showed up again. Samardzija caught Mark Reynolds, who had walked, off base. In the rundown Anthony Rizzo ended up overthrowing and Reynolds advanced to second. There were two outs and Elian Herrera was batting so it didn't matter. If he stays up for an extended period I think he'll lead baseball in checked-swing strikeouts. Though, to be fair, he did have two doubles today, so maybe I'm just overly pessimistic when it comes to him.
In the third inning, Junior Lake led off with a solo home run. Rizzo then blooped in a single. Starling Castro popped up for the first out. Then Luis Valbuena grounded into what should have been the inning ending double play. Instead, Lyle "I'm Supposed to Be Here For My Defense" Overbay let the ball slip under his glove and the Cubs would have runners at the corners. Thankfully the next batter grounded to a competent infielder who was able to actually touch the ball and turn a double play to end the inning.
Lohse really calmed down after that inning. In fact, he pitched 4 more innings without giving up another run. He exited after the 7th with the 4-3 lead and has yet to give up more than 3 runs in a start.
Will Smith pitched a 1-2-3 8th inning, including a strikeout to Anthony Rizzo. The Brewers were unable to score in the top of the 9th so Francisco Rodriguez would enter for the save in the bottom half. His control looked shaky to start and he gave up a lead-off base hit to Starling Castro. Chris Coghlan came to the plate to drop down a bunt. He did but Rodriguez fielded the ball quickly and got the lead out. Welington Castillo popped up behind the plate and for a moment it looked like the wind would push it out of play but ultimately the ball ended up in Lucroy's glove for the second out. Schierholtz lined to Scooter Gennett, who caught the ball about a half a centimeter above the ground for the final out. Brewers improve to 27-15.
They're back at it tomorrow at 1:20, when Matt Garza faces Edwin Jackson.
