In a challenging matchup at Wrigley Field on Wednesday night, the Chicago Cubs faced off against the Milwaukee Brewers, particularly taking aim at Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski, who is a contender for the Cy Young Award this season. Misiorowski had been impressive, having not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his previous starts. However, the Cubs managed to make him work hard, forcing him to throw 92 pitches over just four innings, during which they scored five earned runs on five hits and four walks.
Despite this offensive output, the Cubs could not secure a victory, ultimately falling to the Brewers by a score of 9-5. Manager Craig Counsell praised the performance of his bullpen, which stepped up after Misiorowski's departure. “Their bullpen pitched very well and kind of put the game in order,” Counsell remarked. He acknowledged that while the Cubs swung the bats well, the Brewers' relief pitchers effectively managed the game’s later stages.
The game started poorly for the Cubs, as their starting pitcher David Peterson struggled early on. He allowed two runs in the first inning, putting the Cubs in an early deficit. However, Alex Bregman quickly responded for the Cubs, hitting a two-run home run in the bottom of the first, which showcased the back-and-forth nature of the early innings. Bregman continued to contribute, hitting a two-run single in the second inning, giving the Cubs a brief lead after Tyrone Taylor had driven in a run for the Brewers.
Bregman reflected on the team's efforts, stating, “I thought the guys did a good job of battling and trying to take some good swings on good pitches.” However, he acknowledged that the team fell short in execution, which is crucial against a strong opponent like the Brewers. The Cubs, currently struggling with consistency, faced a frustrating outcome that leaves them trailing nine games behind the Brewers in the division standings.
Peterson's performance was disappointing, as he exited after allowing six runs on seven hits over 3 2/3 innings, along with four walks and four strikeouts. He commented on his struggles, saying, “There was kind of a mixed bag with the stuff, just felt like I wasn’t getting ahead of hitters the way that I needed to.” His inability to execute pitches effectively contributed to the Cubs' woes on the mound.
Despite the loss, there were moments of brilliance for the Cubs, notably a stellar diving catch by Nico Hoerner in the fifth inning that prevented further damage. Hoerner's defensive play was crucial, as he covered significant ground to make the catch with the bases loaded, maintaining a one-run deficit for the Cubs at that point in the game.
The Cubs entered this game with momentum from a recent blowout win, but back-to-back losses have dampened their hopes of catching the Brewers. The bullpen, while not collapsing, showed signs of inconsistency, with Daniel Palencia giving up a run in his first back-to-back outing since returning from the injured list. In a concerning moment during the ninth inning, closer Jacob Webb was struck by a hard-hit line drive, resulting in a contusion, though X-rays showed no fractures.
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