Game One Hundred Three – Cubs 4, Brewers 2
WP – Kyle Hendricks (5-5) LP – Matt Garza (5-12) Save – Tommy Hunter (1)
Anthony Rizzo hit a towering three-run homer with two outs in the third. Kyle Schwarber added a solo blast with two outs in the seventh and Kyle Hendricks limited the Brewers to one run in seven-plus innings as the Cubs posted their third straight victory at Miller Park on Saturday night.
An 11-pitch at-bat by Kyle Schwarber (2-for-3 with a home run, a walk and two runs scored) with two outs in the third inning turned the game in the Cubs favor. Five pitches after Schwarber’s single the Cubs had a 3-0 lead. Matt Garza walked Chris Coghlan (0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored) on four pitches.
Anthony Rizzo (2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI) was sitting fastball and launched Garza’s first pitch into the second deck in right field. Rizzo’s fourth homer in as many games gave Kyle Hendricks all the run support he would need.
Kyle Schwarber went deep in the seventh and supplied the Cubs with a much-needed insurance run. The Cubs managed only five hits, five walks and Kris Bryant was hit by a pitch. Jorge Soler (1-for-3 with a walk) reached base twice and made a sensational leaping catch at the wall in the ninth to take away a two-run homer from Khris Davis.
Kyle Hendricks had a very good outing. Hendricks stymied the Brewers for seven-plus innings. The Kyles were on the same page for the first time. And Hendricks threw a lot of strikes to Schwarber. Hendricks gave up very little hard contact and surrendered just one run despite allowing the leadoff man to reach in five of the eight innings he started.
The only run the Brewers scored off Hendricks came in the fourth inning. Hendricks plunked Ryan Braun to start the inning and he scored on a one-out single to center by Khris Davis.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run on four hits with two walks, a HBP and six strikeouts. Hendricks made 100 pitches, 68 for strikes, in seven-plus innings.
Travis Wood picked up the first two outs in the eighth in relief of Hendricks and Justin Grimm struck out Ryan Braun for the third out.
Jason Motte started the ninth and struggled. Motte served up a leadoff double to Adam Lind. And what appeared to be a two-run opposite field homer to Khris Davis. Jorge Soler robbed Davis of a home run with a leaping catch at the wall.
Joe Maddon went to Tommy Hunter after Soler’s game-changing catch. Jean Segura grounded out to Addison Russell and plated Lind on Hunter’s first pitch. With the Cubs leading 4-2, Hunter blew a 99 mph fastball past Hernan Perez for strike one. Perez flied out to right on Hunter’s third pitch to end the game.
With Saturday night’s win, the Cubs improved to 56-47 on the season.
Kyle Schwarber stepped to the plate with two down in the third inning of a scoreless game. And Schwarber took Garza out of his comfort zone. Garza had allowed just an infield single over the first two innings. Schwarber worked a long at bat before riffling the 11th pitch back up the middle and into center (3-2 count). Garza walked Chris Coghlan on four pitches.
Anthony Rizzo launched Garza’s first pitch to the upper deck in right … and the Cubs took a 3-0 lead on Rizzo’s fourth home run in as many games. Matt Garza plunked Kris Bryant. Jorge Soler checked his swing on a 1-1 pitch and rolled out to third to end the inning. Garza threw 67 pitches, 44 for strikes, in the first three innings.
Kyle Hendricks needed 24 pitches, 15 for strikes, to complete the first two innings. And he started the third inning by walking Martin Maldonado. Garza fouled out on a bunt attempt. Scooter Gennett rolled a 1-0 pitch to Russell, Maldonado was forced at second. Hendricks got out of the inning when Shane Peterson grounded out to second … 42 pitches for Hendricks after three innings, 27 for strikes.
The Cubs led 3-0 after three innings.
Kyle Hendricks made Garza throw 11 pitches in his at bat in the fourth inning. Garza retired the Cubs in order in the fourth. Garza made 84 pitches, 57 for strikes, in four innings.
Kyle Hendricks jumped ahead of Ryan Braun 1-2 before he hit him. Braun advanced to third when Adam Lind bounced out to third. Hendricks could not put away Khris Davis and he singled to center on a 3-2 pitch. Braun scored, 3-1 Cubs. Jean Segura grounded into a 4-6 fielder’s choice. Hendricks struck out Hernan Perez swinging to end the inning. Hendricks needed 64 pitches, 43 for strikes, to complete four innings.
And after four complete, the Cubs had a 3-1 lead.
The Cubs ran up Garza’s pitch count and he was out of the game at the end of the sixth inning. Garza threw 107 pitches, 70 for strikes, in six innings.
Michael Blazek took over for Garza in the top of the seventh. Addison Russell flied out to center and Fowler pulled a 3-2 pitch to first base for the second out.
Kyle Schwarber worked a 3-2 count before hitting a towering blast over the wall in right center … the Cubs took a 4-1 lead on the two-out solo shot.
Coghlan grounded out to first base to end the inning. And Kyle Hendricks pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning … 98 pitches for Hendricks after seven innings, 66 for strikes.
The Cubs had a 4-1 lead after seven innings.
Jorge Soler worked a two-out walk in the eighth against Corey Knebel. But that was all. And Kyle Hendricks stayed in for the eighth inning.
Elian Herrera started the eighth with a single to center. Maddon popped up and made the slow walk to the mound. Hendricks turned the game over to Travis Wood.
Wood struck out pinch-hitter Hector Gomez swinging. Shane Peterson lined a 1-2 pitch to Fowler in center and Maddon went back to his pen with Braun due up. Justin Grimm struck out Ryan Braun to end the inning.
The Cubs had a 4-1 lead after eight innings.
Preston Guilmet made his Brewers’ debut and pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning. The game went to the home half with the Cubs up 4-1.
Jason Motte continued to struggle and gave up a leadoff double to Adam Lind. Khris Davis drove a 3-2 pitch to deep right. Jorge Soler ranged back and made a leap catch at the wall to take a two-run homer away from Davis. Lind tagged and went to third on the play.
Joe Maddon went to the bullpen for Tommy Hunter. Jean Segura grounded out to Russell. Lind scored and made it a 4-2 game. Hernan Perez flied out to Soler in right to end the game.
Clayton Richard will officially be added to the roster Sunday and take on Kyle Lohse in the series finale on Sunday afternoon (1:10pm CDT).