Brewers top Cubs in extra innings, 6-5

Box Score

The Chicago Cubs got an early jump on the Milwaukee Brewers and starter Adrian Houser in this afternoon’s ballgame at Wrigley Field, pushing across two runs in the opening inning. Anthony Rizzo hit a first-pitch home run on a 94 MPH sinker, and after back-to-back two out walks, Ian Happ drove an RBI double to left field.

Chicago added another run off Houser in the second inning. Jason Kipnis reached on a bunt single to lead off the inning, and once again it was Anthony Rizzo doing damage as his one-out double drove home the former member of Cleveland’s baseball club.

Houser settled in after that, however, and wound up working through five innings with just those three runs allowed. By keeping the Cubs at bay, he allowed his offense to stage a comeback in the middle innings. Milwaukee finally managed to break through against Colin Rea in the fourth. Christian Yelich singled with one out, and Avisail Garcia followed him with a single. That brought up Justin Smoak, who cranked an 0-2 curveball to center for a double that scored both runners. Ryan Braun walked after that, then with two outs, Luis Urias singled on a ball that was deflected by shortstop Javier Baez into left field. That brought home Smoak, and tied the contest at 3 runs apiece.

Milwaukee took the lead in the sixth. Ryan Braun doubled to begin the frame and later came home when Orlando Arcia reached on an error, and made the score 4-3. Brent Suter tossed 2.2 scoreless innings in relief of Houser, striking out five batters and allowing only three hits. He was removed after retiring the first two batters in the eighth, and manager Craig Counsell then went to Corey Knebel to face Steven Souza, Jr. The move backfired, however, as Souza sent Knebel’s first pitch out over the wall in left field to tie the game up at 4-4.

Both teams were scoreless in the ninth (with David Phelps pitching for Milwaukee) and the game headed to extra innings. In the top of the 10th, Christian Yelich was the runner who started on second base. He immediately came home to score when Avisail Garcia hit a double off Jeremy Jeffress. Luis Urias singled home Garcia later in the inning, giving the Brewers a two-run lead heading into the bottom of the inning.

Proven Closer Alex Claudio came in to save the game for Milwaukee, and though he allowed the runner who started on second to score, he induced a lineout, a groundout, and a strikeout against the three batters he faced in the bottom half of the 10th. That gave the Brewers a 6-5 victory and pushed their record to 9-10.

These two teams will face off again tomorrow afternoon in the fourth and final game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:20 PM central time with Josh Lindblom set to face Jon Lester.