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WP: Marco Estrada (5-2)
LP: Travis Wood (5-5)
HR: Ryan Braun (8), Nate Schierholtz (2)
MVP: Ryan Braun (+.161)
LVP: Mark Reynolds (-.027)
This is how a game between the division leader and the last-place team should go.
The Brewers wasted no time in starting the scoring. Jean Segura singled to start for the Brewers, then Ryan Braun blasted his first home run at Miller Park to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead. After a strikeout by Jonathan Lucroy and a walk by Carlos Gomez, Khris Davis doubled to increase the Brewers lead to 3-0. Rickie Weeks followed that up with an RBI single to make it 4-0, and a Martin Maldanado RBI double made it 5-0. All of that happened before the end of the first inning.
In the second inning, Ryan Braun, Jonathan Lucroy, and Carlos Gomez hit back-to-back-to-back singles to increase the Brewers lead to 6-0. The Cubs would respond in the third inning with two runs, but the Brewers answered right back with a run in the third to make it 7-2. They would add on four more runs in the fifth inning, and the Cubs followed that with a single run of their own to make it 11-3.
The offense was on fire today. They recorded their ninth straight game with 10+ hits, and 7 of the 9 starters had at least 1 hit (only Mark Reynolds and Marco Estrada did not). Ryan Braun led the offense with a 3-for-5 day with three RBI, and Jean Segura also went 3-for-5 in the game. Rickie Weeks and Martin Maldonado also recorded three hits each.
Marco Estrada had another rough day. While he put together another quality start with six innings of three run ball, it wasn't the best looking start. He allowed six hits and four walks with five strikeouts, allowing one home run. It was enough for the Brewers on this day, as opposing starter Travis Wood didn't make it out of the third inning. He allowed ten hits and seven runs in 2 2/3 innings, striking out four with one walk.
In the bullpen, Rob Wooten and Wei-Chung Wang each worked around a hit for a scoreless inning. Tyler Thornburg allowed two runs on two hits and two walks in his inning to close out the game.
The series against the Cubs continues tomorrow afternoon. The game will feature Wily Peralta for the Brewers and Jason Hammel for the Cubs. First pitch is at 3:10 pm.