Catharsis averted: Cubs win 6-2

Winning Pitcher: Kyle Hendricks

Losing Pitcher: Matt Garza

HR: Chris Valaika

Win Expectancy Chart

Boxscore

The first inning went by without much flare. The Brewers didn't get a single base runner and the Cubs were held scoreless, their only base runner reaching on a double.

The second inning went a tad better for Brewers batter. Khris Davis blooped a single after Aramis Ramirez launched a liner that found a glove. Baseball is a silly game sometimes! Matt Clark grounded to the right side of the infield, but Davis was able to advance. Davis then scored on a sharp grounder by Logan Schafer in his first game back. Yay! Jean Segura kept it going with another single before the inning ended on a ground out by Garza. But, they cleared the pitcher and took an early 1-0 lead! (Heard on the broadcast: This was only the second time the Brewers got a lead during their 7 game losing streak)

The lead did not last long. After retiring the first two batters, Garza allowed a single before giving up a 2-run home run to Chris Valaika. Garza did strike out Hendricks for the final out of the inning immediately after, but the Cubs cleared the pitcher and took an early 2-1 lead...

Gerardo Parra was the Brewers only base runner in the third inning. He bunted for a single with one out. Then with two outs he got himself thrown out at second attempting a steal.

Chris Coghlan led off the third with a single for the Cubs. Then after a Baez popup, he stole second base. The Brewers new found defensive ineptitude continued. Luis Valbuena popped up to medium left. Davis and Segura both went for it and either probably could have had it had the other been called off. Instead they both sort of stopped short and neither caught the ball, ending up in runners reaching third and second. Jorge Soler then doubled in two runs. Wellington Castillo drove in the Cubs fifth run with a ground rule double. Logan Watkins drove in the Cubs sixth run with a line drive. An intentional walk to Valaika would send the pitcher to the plate meaning the Brewers let the Cubs bat around in the third inning. Hendricks did strike out, but the Cubs would walk away with a 6-1 lead.

Khris Davis stayed hot with his second hit of the night with one out in the fourth. Unfortunately Matt Clark's third grounder of the night didn't find a hole and ended the inning on a double play.

Marco Estrada took over for Garza in the fourth inning. He allowed a base runner but otherwise had no problems keeping the Cubs off the board.

Hendricks cruised through the fifth inning. Reynolds reached after his grounder hit third base and bounced way high, but then Gennett immediately popped up on 1 pitch to end the inning.

Estrada was solid in the fifth inning too. He allowed a base runner but nothing else.

The Brewers made some noise in the sixth inning. Gerardo Parra and Jonathan Lucroy both reached on singles. Ramirez popped up and Khris Davis grounded to third. It probably should have been an out, but Valbuena just couldn't keep it in his glove and the bases were loaded. Lyle Overbay was announced as the pinch hitter for Marco Estrada. He grounded to first and it should have been an out, but instead the Valaika kind of just missed it. A run scored and everyone was safe. Bases remained loaded with one out for Logan Schafer who popped out. With two outs and Jean Segura coming to the plate, the Cubs curiously decided to remove Hendricks from the game. Not sure why since he was sitting pretty at 80 pitches. Justin Grimm entered the game and retired Segura to stomp the Brewers rally to bits.

Will Smith pitched the bottom of the sixth inning. He allowed a base runner and nothing else.

Brewers batters did nothing in the seventh.

Brandon Kintzler pitched a clean bottom half of the seventh.

Aramis Ramirez finally reached on a base hit in the top of the eighth. However, as was the trend in this game, he was the only base runner for the Brewers.

Alfredo Figaro allowed one base runner in the eighth and nothing else.

The Cubs either didn't want to take any chances or just needed to get him some work, but regardless of why, they went with Hector Rondon in the ninth. He struck out Schafer before inducing a grounder from Segura who would be awarded second base when an errant throw went out of play. He'd then advance to third on a fly out from Reynolds. That's as far as he'd get though, as Scooter Gennett would ground out on one pitch.

Brewers return home tomorrow to face division leading rivals the St. Louis Cardinals. Wily Peralta faces Michael Wacha (in his first game back from the DL). Game time is 7:05 pm CT.

Other Notes:

• The Cardinals walked off the Pirates today to complete the three game sweep, furthering their lead on the Brewers to 3 games. The Pirates remain 2 games back of the Brewers and the 2nd Wild Card spot.

• The Giants lost their series finale against the Rockies today to remain 2.5 games up on the Brewers for the 1st Wild Card spot.

• The Braves beat the Phillies to bring themselves to within 0.5 games of the Brewers and the 2nd Wild Card spot.

• It was announced before the game started, that Starlin Castro will miss the rest of the season after hurting his ankle.