Game One Hundred Fifty-Two – Cubs 1, Brewers 4
WP – Zach Davies (2-2) LP – Kyle Hendricks (7-7) Save – Francisco Rodriguez (35)
Kyle Hendricks was charged with three runs in six-plus innings. Jorge Soler launched a solo home run in the seventh. The Cubs could not mount a comeback off the Brewers bullpen after Zach Davies left the game. The Cubs had only four hits and lost the series finale to Milwaukee on Wednesday night at the old ballyard.
The Cubs nine-game winning streak against the Brewers came to an end Wednesday night.
Jorge Soler (2-for-3 with a home run) was the Cubs’ offense Wednesday. Soler smacked a solo home run off Will Smith in the seventh for the Cubs only run. Soler had two of the Cubs’ four hits. The Cubs managed only one walk and could not figure out Zach Davies. The Brewers’ rookie right hander kept the Cubs off balance for six innings. Davies had excellent command of his changeup and mixed his speeds throughout his outing.
Javier Baez (1-for-3) and pinch-hitter Tommy La Stella (1-for-1) had the Cubs other two hits. Miguel Montero (0-for-1 with a walk) worked the only free pass for the Cubs in nine innings.
The top of the lineup (Dexter Fowler, Kyle Schwarber, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo) were a combined 0-for-16 with three strikeouts and no walks.
Kyle Hendricks pitched better than his final line indicates. Wednesday was one of Hendricks’ better outings of the second half. Hendricks found a rhythm and retired the first 14 batters he faced. Hendricks kept the ball down, induced six groundball outs and was able to get swings and misses with his changeup. Hendricks pitched into the seventh. And with any support from the bullpen, his final line would be more indicative of the way he pitched. Hendricks gave up a run in the seventh and was charged with another one due to a poor outing from Justin Grimm.
Kyle Hendricks finished with a quality start, but a loss. Hendricks allowed three runs on four hits with no walks and eight strikeouts. Hendricks made 78 pitches, 57 for strikes, in six-plus innings.
Justin Grimm had another rough game Wednesday. Joe Maddon went to Grimm in the seventh with Khris Davis on first, no outs and the Cubs down 2-0. Grimm walked three of the five batters he faced and served up a sac fly to Martin Maldonado that allowed Davis to score. Grimm had zero command and created more concerns.
Zac Rosscup cleaned up Grimm’s mess and combined with Neil Ramirez on a scoreless eighth. Trevor Cahill issued a leadoff walk in the ninth that ended up being the Brewers’ fourth run on a single by Maldonado off Hector Rondon.
With Wednesday’s loss, the Cubs slipped to 89-63 on the season.
Kyle Hendricks retired the first 12 batters he faced Wednesday night. Hendricks made 47 pitches, 35 for strikes, in four innings. Hendricks started the fifth inning of a scoreless game by striking out Khris Davis swinging. Domingo Santana also struck out swinging, 14 up and 14 down for Hendricks.
Jean Segura reached on an infield single to the hole at short. Segura swiped second with two outs on a 1-1 pitch to Sardinas. Luis Sardinas ripped Hendricks’ next pitch into left. Kyle Schwarber charged and made a strong, accurate throw to the plate. Segura slid in just ahead of Montero’s tag … 1-0 Brewers. Martin Maldonado lined out to right to end the inning. Hendricks made 65 pitches, 47 for strikes, in five innings.
Miguel Montero walked to start the fifth and moved up to second when Russell grounded out to third base. Hendricks rolled out to second for the third out. Zach Davies made 78 pitches, 51 for strikes, in five innings.
The Brewers led 1-0 after five innings, and the Cubs had only two hits.
Kyle Hendricks pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning. And the Cubs did nothing against Davies in the home half. Davies needed 90 pitches, 59 for strikes, to complete six innings.
The Cubs trailed 1-0 after six innings.
Hendricks stayed in for the seventh. Adam Lind just missed a homer to left. Lind drove a 2-1 pitch to deep left that hit off the ivy. Lind stopped at second with a leadoff double. Khris Davis lashed Hendricks’ first pitch over Baez and into right center. Lind scored, 2-0 Brewers. Davis stopped at first with a long single.
Joe Maddon decided that was enough for Hendricks. Justin Grimm took over and walked Domingo Santana (3-2 pitch). With two on and no outs, Grimm struck out Segura swinging. Grimm walked Luis Sardinas on four pitches and loaded the bases with one out.
Martin Maldonado smoked a 0-2 pitch into the gap in left center. Schwarber lumbered over and made a diving catch on the track. Schwarber flipped the ball and his glove to Fowler, who fired the ball back in. Davis tagged and scored, 3-0 Brewers. Jason Rogers batted for Zach Davies with runners on the corners. And Grimm walked him. Maddon finally went to the mound and replaced Grimm. Zac Rosscup took over with the bags juiced and two outs. Hernan Perez hit for Scooter Gennett and rolled a 1-2 pitch toward third. Bryant fielded the bad hop and went to the bag for the third out.
Lefty Will Smith started the seventh. Anthony Rizzo grounded out to second for the first out. Jorge Soler broke up the shutout. Soler lined the first offering from Smith into the bleachers in left center … 3-1 Brewers. Starlin Castro hit for Montero and flied out to center. Baez went down swinging to end the inning.
After seven complete, it was 3-1 Brewers.
The Brewers tacked on in the ninth and put the game away. Trevor Cahill walked the first batter he faced, Domingo Santana. Craig Counsell called for a hit and run on a 0-1 pitch to Segura. Cahill fielded the comebacker and threw to first for the out. Maddon made the slow walk and called in Hector Rondon from the pen.
Luis Sardinas bounced back to the mound. Rondon got the out at first as Santana moved up to third base. Martin Maldonado spanked Rondon’s first pitch into left. Santana trotted in, 4-1 Brewers. Shane Peterson smoked a single to center. With runners on the corners, Rondon struck out Hernan Perez swinging to end the inning.
The Cubs went down in order on nine pitches (Schwarber, Bryant and Rizzo) against Francisco Rodriguez to end the game.
Thursday is the Cubs’ last off day of the regular season. The Cubs open a three-game series on Friday afternoon (1:20pm CDT) against the Pirates. Jon Lester takes on Gerrit Cole in game one.