The Cubs would like to redeem themselves after last nights loss. John Lackey would take on Milwaukees 26 year old right handed Jimmy Nelson. He would start the game with a perfect 1st inning but would load the bases in the 2cd with two outs. Zobrist singled, La Stella doubled and they intentionally walked Ross but Lackey would strikeout to end the inning. Lackey would walk the first batter of the game but would get the next three batters and it would be smooth sailing until the 4th. With one out Jonathan Lucroy would double to right. Chris Carter would strikeout and with the next batter in the box, David Ross would pick off Lucroy to end the inning.
Lackey would run into trouble in the bottom of the 5th with a leadoff double to Kirk Nieuwenhuis and then a single to Domingo Santana. Alex Presley would ground into a force out scoring Kirk. Lackey would get out of the inning. In the bottom of the sixth he would give up a hit to Scooter Gennett. With two outs Scooter would take to large of a lead putting him in a rundown to be caught stealing by David Ross.
Through 7 innings the Cubs would get some baserunners but no one would cross the plate. After 7 it would be Cubs 0, Brewers 1. Lackey would come out for the bottom of the seventh, Adam Warren takes his place puts a runner on but gets out of the inning pretty easily.
Nelson would stay in the game for the 8th getting the first man out but breathes life into the Cubs fans in Miller Park with a double to Jorge Soler. With Fowler at the plate and a wild pitch sends Soler to third. Fowler would walk and that results in a pitching change. Tyler Thornburg comes in and shuts down any chance the Cubs had at taking the league.
Justin Grimm comes into the bottom of the 8th, getting the first two batters to watch strike three. Jonathan Villar would walk and again with Scooter up at bat David Ross would triple out another runner to end the inning. Still a 1-0 game.
Jeremy Jeffress would come into close out the game starting with the man he ended last nights game, hits Anthony Rizzo. Baez would come into pinch run with Zobrist at the plate. Zobrist knocks one to right, making this game interesting. La Stella would ground out to second moving the batters up. Addison Russell would ground out also to second but scoring Baez. The Brewers walk Montero to bring up Tim Federowicz to end the inning with a strikeout. The game is tied at 1!
Pedro Strop comes into the bottom half to get a 1-2-3 inning. Michael Blazek comes into the 10th striking out Fowler, giving up a single to Heyward and walking Bryant. Baez would get the force out and Zobrist would ground out to end the inning.
We go into extra innings. The Cubs would strike hot in the 10th with two base runners but no runs. Pedro Strop would make it just as exciting with a walk and single but gets Ramon Flores out on a called third strike. In the 11th, Russell would double but again no runs.
Pedro Strop entered in the bottom of the 11th having a solid 1-2-3 inning. Fowler would lead off the 12th with a single but would be forced out on Heyward’s single to short stop. He would be caught stealing 2nd base, Maddon would challenge but it’s upheld. Bryant flies out to end the inning. Hector Rondon comes into the bottom half putting Chris Carter on first due to an error, then walks the next batter prompting a pitcher change. Travis Wood loads the bases with another walk but puts it all together to stop anyone from crossing the plate.
The top of 13, with one out Zobrist grabs a single off Carlos Torres who beans Tommy La Stella. He strikes out Russell for out number 2. They intentionally walk Montero to get to pitcher Travis Wood. This completely backfires as he scores an RBI walk. Fowler lines out but Cubs up 2-1. Wood stays in giving up s double to Villar but gets Scooter to ground out. Maddon goes to the pen bringing in Neil Ramirez who makes it exciting. A wild pitch moves Villar to third then a walk to Lucroy but after the big K to Carter, Maddon relieves him from duty. Clayton Richard comes in for the save and gets Kirk Nieuwenhuis to ground out to end the game.
Now the bullpen did make the game exciting at times but held it together when the Cubs bats were silenced. Whether it’s by 10 or 1 run, a wins a win.
Sports Time Radio 