Brewers beat Cubs, 6-3, thanks to the arm of Freddy Peralta and big sixth inning

The two young starters for the Brewers and Cubs were both outstanding this evening. Freddy Peralta was magnificent for his second straight start and third straight appearance. Over six innings, he struck out 10 and gave up just one run on a line drive homer off the bat of Kris Bryant in the fourth inning. His stuff is good as any on the Brewers’ staff, and it showed as Cubs’ hitters were befuddled all night.

Adbert Alzolay was just a bit better for the first five innings, allowing just one Brewers’ baserunner. The Brewers got to him and the Cubs bullpen for a hugh sixth inning however. Alzolay gave up a lead off single to Omar Narvaez and a walk to David Robertson. Pinch hitter Billy McKinney followed with a sharp single to right that loaded the bases.

Alzolay would face just one more hitter. Lorenzo Cain grounded into a force out that took out Narvaez at the plate. Still the bases were loaded and the Cubs manager came to the mound to take the ball from the young, Cubs starter and give it to Andrew Chafin.

Craig Counsell countered by sending Luis Urias, who had just two hits on the season, to pinch hit for Daniel Vogelbach. The move worked. Urias took a first pitch slider down the left field line for a bases clearing double, and the Brew Crew was up 3-1.

The Brewers were not down yet in the sixth. Avisail Garcia was intentionally walked with two outs and Urias on third base. Chafin threw a wild pitch that allowed Urias to score and Garcia to move to second. Coming up after the intentional walk to Garcia, Jackie Bradley Jr. made the Cubs pay. He swatted a triple that rolled all the way to the centerfield wall. Garcia scored. JBJ would later trot in and score the sixth run of the inning on a Keston Hiura single to right.

Things got a little dicey in the bottom of the ninth. An inexperienced Drew Rasmussen faced the heart of the Cubs’ order and they got to him. With Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant on second and third, Javy Baez delivered a 2-run double. With only one out in the inning and with the Cubs down only three, Craig Counsell made the call to Josh Hader. Hader got Jason Heyward to softly ground out to first and David Bote to strike out on three straight 85 mph change ups low in the zone as Bote was gearing up for 97 mph up in the zone.

The win is the fifth in six games for the Brew Crew, and Brewers starting pitching continues excel. These two teams go at it once again tomorrow night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 CT with Brandon Woodruff toeing the rubber for Milwaukee and Kyle Hendricks getting the ball for the Cubs. The game can be heard on WTMJ 620 and Brewers Radio Network. You can watch the game on Bally Sports Wisconsin.