Game Fifty-Two: Cubs 5, Brewers 11
WP – Marco Estrada (5-2) LP – Travis Wood (5-5) Save – None
Travis Wood had his worst outing in a Cubs’ uniform and three pitches into the game the Cubs were down 2-0. The Brewers hit around in the first inning and scored five times. Wood lasted only 2 2/3 innings and gave up seven runs on 10 hits as the Cubs were embarrassed again at Miller Park (7-25 in last 32 games at Miller Park) on Friday night.
The game got out of hand in a hurry and was over before Wood recorded the third out. Travis Wood seemingly left everything up and out over the plate in his short outing. The Brewers hit four extra basehits off Wood, all by right handers and each went of them went to the opposite field. The Brewers scored five runs in the first, one in the second and one more in the third inning off Wood before Rick Renteria went to his bullpen.
Travis Wood gave up seven runs on 10 hits with one walk and four strikeouts … half of the eight outs he recorded were on strikeouts. Wood threw 36 pitches in the first inning and left after throwing 62 pitches, 41 for strikes, in 2 2/3 innings.
Carlos Villanueva gave up the Brewers other four runs in the fifth inning after he recorded the final out in the third and tossed a scoreless fourth inning. Villanueva allowed four runs on five hits with no walks and one strikeout in 2 1/3 innings.
Jose Veras tossed two scoreless innings with a strikeout and Wesley Wright allowed a hit in the eighth.
Cubs pitching allowed a season-high 16 hits on Friday night.
The Cubs scoreless innings streak (22 innings) came to an end in the third inning. After Travis Wood (1-for-1 with a run scored) collected the Cubs first hit that advanced Mike Olt (0-for-2 with two walks and a run scored) to second base, Emilio Bonifacio (1-for-5 with a RBI) reached on an infield single off Rickie Weeks’ glove that allowed Olt to score.
Nate Schierholtz (2-for-4 with a home run) hit a solo homer in the sixth and the Cubs scored two runs in the ninth on singles by Starlin Castro (2-for-4 with a RBI and a walk) and pinch-hitter John Baker (1-for-1 with a RBI).
Junior Lake (0-for-3 with a run scored, a RBI and two walks) drove in a run and scored one of his own. Luis Valbuena (2-for-4 with a double and a walk) and Justin Ruggiano (1-for-4 with a double) both collected doubles.
The Cubs managed 10 hits and were 3-for-10 with RISP while leaving 10 men on base.
With Friday’s loss, the Cubs dropped to 19-33 on the season.
The Cubs went down in order on 12 pitches in the first inning, 10 for strikes, and looked defeated before Travis Wood took the mound.
Jean Segura led off with an infield single back up the middle and off of Wood’s glove. Valbuena picked the ball up and made a strong throw to first but his throw was late. Ryan Braun drove a 0-1 pitch over the wall in right center … and three pitches into the game the Cubs were down 2-0. Wood caught Lucroy looking for the first out. Wood walked Carlos Gomez and he scored when Khris Davis drove a 1-0 pitch into the gap in right center. Davis ended up at second with a double and the Brewers took a 3-0 lead. Five batters in the game, Wood had given up three runs on four hits. Rickie Weeks singled in Davis, 4-0 Brewers. Wood struck out Reynolds swinging (3-2 pitch) for the second out. Martin Maldonado drove a 0-2 pitch into right center. Weeks scored from first, 5-0 Brewers. Maldonado was stranded at second when Wood caught Estrada looking to finally end the inning.
At the end of one, the Cubs were down 5-0 and it took Travis Wood 36 pitches (22 strikes) to complete one inning.
The Cubs managed a Starlin Castro walk in the second and that was all … 22 straight innings without a run.
The Brewers went right back to work in the second inning. Wood retired Segura on a grounder to first. Ryan Braun singled to left center (3-2 pitch). Castro made a diving stop on a ball into the hole by Lucroy. Castro lost the handle on the ball and the Brewers had runners on first and second with one out. Carlos Gomez singled to center. Braun scored, 6-0 Brewers. Davis grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning. Travis Wood needed 52 pitches, 32 for strikes, to barely complete two innings.
After two, the Cubs were down 6-0.
Mike Olt walked to start the second. Travis Wood reached on an infield single up the middle that Estrada and Segura tried to barehand. Wood reached first after neither fielder could get a handle on the ball … the Cubs first hit. Emilio Bonifacio pulled a grounder to the hole at second. Weeks tried to make a diving stop, the ball hit off his glove and ended up in shallow right. Olt scored, 6-1 Brewers. With runners on the corners and no outs, Junior Lake pulled a grounder to the hole at short. Reynolds made a diving stop and threw to second to force Bonifacio. Wood scored on the play, 6-2 Brewers. With Lake at first and one down, Luis Valbuena pulled a 1-0 pitch down the first baseline. The ball rolled into foul territory and a fan reached over and touched the ball with his hat. Instead of Lake scoring, it was a ground rule double and the Cubs had runners on second and third with one out. Starlin Castro chased a high fastball on a 0-2 pitch and struck out swinging. And Ruggiano grounded out to third to end the inning.
The Brewers got the run right back in the bottom of the third and knocked Travis Wood out of the game in the process. Weeks led off with a double to right center, the fourth extra basehit for the Brewers to right center. Wood struck out Reynolds swinging. Martin Maldonado singled to right. Weeks scored and Maldonado went to second on the throw to the plate, 7-2 Brewers. Estrada hit a hard grounder back up the middle. Bonifacio grabbed the grounder and threw out Estrada at first as Maldonado advanced to third. With two outs, a man on third and the top of the lineup due up again, Rick Renteria decided that was enough for Wood and summoned Carlos Villanueva from the pen. Segura grounded out to third to end the inning.
At the end of three, the Cubs trailed 7-2.
The Cubs left two runners on base in the fourth and fifth innings while Carlos Villanueva kept the Brewers off the board in the fourth inning.
The Brewers rubbed it in the Cubs face in the fifth inning and put another crooked number on the board. Davis led off the inning with a double to left off the base of the wall. Rickie Weeks singled to left past a diving Castro. Davis scored, 8-2 Brewers. Reynolds popped out to right center for the first out. Martin Maldonado singled to left center. Weeks rounded second and slid headfirst into third base. Weeks then scored on a squeeze bunt. Marco Estrada dropped the bunt down, Weeks raced down the line and scored … 9-2 Brewers. Maldonado advanced to second on the play. Villanueva’s first pitch to Segura sailed over the shortstop’s head. Jean Segura singled to center. Maldonado scored, 10-2 Brewers, and Segura went to second on the Lake’s throw to the plate. Ryan Braun singled to left. Segura scored. Braun rounded first with his team up 11-2. Valbuena saw Braun and threw behind him to the bag. Mike Olt tagged him out. Braun did not agree and signaled he was safe and told his manager to challenge the call. Ron Roenicke stood by the ump before his staff told him not to challenge. Inning over.
Nate Schierholtz made it 11-3 with a solo home run in the top of the sixth, but that was all, and Jose Veras retired the Brewers in order in the sixth.
After six complete, the Brewers led 11-3.
The Brewers took the 11-3 lead into the ninth inning. Tyler Thornburg made quick work of Darwin Barney (fly out to left) and Bonifacio (grounder to short) for the first two outs. Junior Lake worked a full count before walking for the second time in the game. Luis Valbuena walked and Castro stepped in with runners on first and second with two down. Starlin Castro singled to center. Lake scored, 11-4 Brewers. John Baker hit for Wesley Wright and singled to left. Valbuena scored, 11-5 Brewers. Welington Castillo grounded out to short to end the game.
Jason Hammel faces Wily Peralta in game two at Miller Park on Saturday afternoon (3:10pm CDT).