Tonight’s game is the first in a three game set with the lowly Brewers. Former Cub Matt Garza faces Jake Arrieta in what looks like a lopsided matchup.
The Brewers, who have really struggled offensively get a two out rally in the first. Khris Davis slips a single to right that was perfectly placed between Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro. Adam Lind then pounds a 2-2 fastball into the right field corner for an RBI double and the Brewers draw first blood. Jonathan Lucroy pops up to end the inning, but the brew crew scores first and leads 1-0.
The Cubs come right back in the bottom of the inning when Dexter Fowler hits a 2-2 offering hard that bounces off of Ryan Gennett’s chest for an error. Starlin Castro draws a walk, yes that’s right folks Castro draws a walk. Oddly enough he has been so much better than expected in this department. Anyway Rizzo hits a single into right that scores Dexter and puts Castro on third. Garza does not hold the runner on and Rizzo steals second just ahead of Lucroy’s throw. After a quick trip to the mound by the pitching coach the inning is over quickly with the score tied at one each after an inning.
Both pitchers settle in and not much happens for either team until the bottom of the fifth inning. Arrieta hits a grounder that Elian Herrera boots for a leadoff error. Fowler moves the runner over to second and he is still there with two outs. Rizzo then hits one high and deep into the right field power alley. This one hits just under the basket and takes a funny bounce and by the time the ball is back in the infield Rizzo is on third with a triple!
Garza is clearly frustrated and grooves a fastball that Kris Bryant does not miss. This one is into the left field seats for a two run bomb! The crowd is really getting into this one now and even though the inning ends quickly afterwards the Cubs now have a 3-1 lead after five innings of play.
That was the score as we headed into the bottom of the seventh inning with Garza still in but starting to tire. The visitor’s bullpen in full work mode after Castro pulls a fastball down the left field line that just stays fair for a home run. Finally, Garza digs his own grave as he walks two straight batters with two outs and the manager has no other choice to remove his starter. Adrian Houser is brought in and he walks the next batter. With the bases loaded and two outs Austin Jackson gets a hanging curve ball and mashes this one hard to center field. Shane Peterson is going back, back…… and makes a great running catch at the ivy to end the inning, but the Cubs now lead 5-1.
And that would be the final score as neither team did anything else. For the Cubs, Jake Arrieta goes the distance, and picks up his fifth win of the year and is 5-1 with a 2.94 ERA. Kris Bryant hit his 5th homer of the year, and Starlin Castro hit his second.
For the Brewers, Matt Garza pitched well, but ran out of gas. He is now 2-2 with a 4.38 ERA.
Around the horn:
Melvin Upton of the Padres leads the league in OPS at 1.200
Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers is toasting the NL with a 12.99 strikeouts per 9 innings and has been in double digits in all four of his starts this year.
Jose Altuve of the Astros leads the majors with a .421 batting average
