Series 7 Brewers at Cubs

    Game 1

    Hendricks gave up a hit and then a wild pitch got him to second to start the game. After that, he looked rock solid until he gave up two solo homers in the 6th. By that point, the game was in hand thanks to a surging offense. The Cubs started early with 6 runs in the first off of 6 hits that included 4 doubles. The highlight was a bases-loaded double from Marisnick that cleared the bases. They added 4 more in the second from two solo shots from Rizzo and Baez and a triple from Heyward. Marisnick added a solo shot in the 4th and the Cubs had 11 runs before the Brewers could get started. After the Brewers got their 2 in the 6th the Cubs responded again for 4 of their own. Romine got a double to score a run and then Contreras joined the party with a 3 run homer of his own. That finished the scoring with the Cubs blasting the Brewers 15-2. Kyle Ryan and Dillon Maples closed out the Brewers with good showings from the pen and the Cubs stayed hot.

    Game 2

    Alzolay let the first 2 batters reach before getting an out on a sac fly. He got out of the jam with a strikeout and lineout to end the inning. The Cubs got 2 runs in the 2nd when Hoerner hit another double to drive home Heyward and Sogard. Alzolay was rolling until the 5th. He left when 2 outs and men on first and third. Brothers came in and gave up 2 runs on a bases-loaded walk and hit by pitch. Chafin then gave up a 2 run homer in the seventh. The Cubs would get a run back in the eighth on a Heyward homer. Ross would get ejected after a terrible strike call on Marisnick as the Cubs were trying to make a comeback in the ninth. That would end the scoring as the Brewers eked out a 4-3 victory.

    Game 3

     The first 4 batters of the game reached for the Brewers in the first but Arrieta limited the damage to only 1 run which kept the Cubs in the game. Both pitchers were sharp after that as the Cubs had an opportunity in the fourth with first and second and no outs but could finish it off. Arrieta got 15 straight outs after the first 4 batters until he ran into trouble in the sixth again. A walk and a Baez error gave the BRewers first and third with no one out. Arrieta maneuvered his way through and came out unscathed. They went on without either team scoring until the ninth when the Brewers broke it open with 5 runs. The Cubs whimpered away in the ninth and lost the game and series.

    The good

    Game 1 was a lot of fun and continued to show the offense is capable of scoring runs in bunches. All three starters looked solid even with Alzolay getting the quick hook in his start. Hoerner has come back looking strong and ready to contribute to a weak offense. Seeing Kyle Ryan throw well in his return is encouraging as well along with Mills having a solid multi-inning outing in game 3.

    The bad

    Losing a series to the team right ahead of you is not a good look. The offense disappeared after a strong first game and the bullpen blew a lead in game 2 and let game 3 get out of hand in the ninth. Woodruff also looks like he has the Cubs number and he could be torturing us for years to come. The Brewers' peen also dominated and they look like a strong early leader for division favorite.

    Looking ahead

    Another series with the Braves is up next. Getting some momentum back and winning another series would be huge. The offense will need to be more consistent moving forward as they seem to have broken out of the early slump a bit. Now to get consistent and manufacture runs when the homers aren't coming.