Cubs Start off Year Bright with Series Victory over Brewers

     Game 1

     The Cubs won the first of many back-and-forth affairs on an exciting Opening Day for the MLB. Both Brunes and Hendricks were dealing on the mound early.

     The Brewers plated the first run in the fourth after loading the bases with one out. Lorenzo Cain grounded out to first to score Andrew McCutchen, before Hendricks escaped without further damage, getting Jace Paterson on a lineout to end the inning.

     The Cubs took the lead in the bottom of the fifth, getting a long ball from an unlikely source. Seiya Suzuki and Jason Heyward started the inning with singles and set up Patrick Wisdom to tie the game with a sacrifice fly to deep left. That brought up Nico Hoerner, who belted the season's first home run on a line shot to left, giving the Cubs a 3-1 lead. This was his first home run in 324 plate appearances since Sep. 21, 2019.

     Hendricks finished the day pitching five and two-thirds solid innings giving up only one run, to go along with an impressive seven strikeouts.

     The Brewers came back to tie the game at three in the seventh. With one out and runners on first and third, Wong doubled to cut the deficit to run, before Yelich hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game at three.

     The Cubbies responded in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead. Clint Frazier doubled with one out and was joined on the bases by Wilson Contreras after a hit-by-pitch. With two outs, Ian Happ delivered the big knock, blasting a doubling to deep right-center, bouncing high off the wall to score both baserunners, which gave the men in blue a two-run lead.

     The Brewers got one back in the eighth on a sac fly by Cain to cut the lead to one.

     The score would stay that way as David Robertson closed the door in the ninth to record his first save with the Cubs.

     Game 2

     The second game was a runaway win for the Cubs, blowing out Milwaukee 9-0, guaranteeing a series victory to start the season.

     Despite the blowout win, the game was marred by five hit-batsmen and the benches clearing late in the game. The Brewers hit three Cubs players, Madrigal in the first, Contreras for the fifteenth time in his career, and then Happ in the seventh. Happ had to leave the game, while the other two were both up-and-in and caused concern.

     The Cubs would hit McCutchen in the eighth, which led to the benches being cleared and some harsh words post-game by McCutcheon. McCutchen claimed the Cubs were trying to injure him, and while it seemed intentional it was not somewhere that would cause serious injury and most likely was just a bit of retaliation.

     The stars were on the mound, as Justin Steele impressed in his first outing of the year. The righty hurled five scoreless innings, while strikeout five and allowing only five runners. This start was encouraging after a solid season last year which saw him start nine games while coming out of the bullpen for another eleven, compiling a 4.26 ERA.

     Keegan Thompson took over from there, tossing two and two-thirds scoreless in relief. Thompson struck out four Brewers, with his only blemish a walk in the sixth. Thompson was brilliant last year, making 36 appearances with a 3.38 ERA mostly out of the bullpen for the Cubs.

     The Cubs were gifted three runs in the first as Brandon Woodruff struggled with his command. The first four batters reached base without taking their bats off their shoulders as Woodruff walked three and Madrigal was hit by a pitch.

     The game would not get any closer with the Cubs scoring a run in the third, followed by three more in the fourth to take a commanding 7-0 lead.

     The Cubs tacked on two more in the sixth, finishing the scoring at 9-0.

     Game 3

     Chicago could not complete the sweep falling in a nail-biter 5-4 in. the finale.

     The Cubs grabbed an early lead in the first on Suzuki's first career home run. With two on and two out, Suzuki hit a moon-shot to left-center that received a huge roar from the crowd at Wrigley.

     Marcus Stroman was great in his Cubs debut, pitching five innings of one-run ball. He struck out three while allowing only five baserunners.

     The Brewers pounced once Storman left game, collecting three runs in the top of the sixth. Yelich Doubled home Adames after he led the inning off with a walk. After an out, Tellez launched a home run to retake the lead.

     The Cubs tied the game in the bottom of the inning, capitalising on a couple miscues. Fraizer walked with two outs and advanced on an error. Two wild pitches later and the game was tied.

     The Brewers took the lead back on a solo homer by Brosseau that finished the scoring.

     The good

     The starting pitching was strong with all three pitchers allowing one run or less in five or more innings. Suzuki also impressed, with three hits and four walks in 12 plate appearances. Suzuki had a team-high six RBI including a three-run homer in game three. Ian Happ was the other standout on offense, collecting a team-leading five hits in only seven at-bats including two doubles in the series.

     The bad

     There was not much bad in the opening series. The bullpen depth looks to be a problem and could be costly for the team, but it is still really early to worry about that.

     Looking ahead

     The Cubs have a quick two-game series in Pittsburgh, followed by a four-game set against the Rockies. Getting both games against the Pirates would be huge along with a series victory in Colorado to keep the momentum from a great season-opening series win against the Brewers.