The Milwaukee Brewers came into tonight’s action against the Cubs on a 3-game losing streak. That ended as Milwaukee took the lead early and never relinquished it. The storyline, in this game, however, was all about Brewers’ pitching.
Freddy Peralta got the start in this one, and he was superb. While he was certainly inefficient, just covering five innings and walking four, he was really effective. Across those five innings pitched, Peralta gave up just one hit and struck out five. Cubs’ hitters were befuddled throughout the evening as Peralta induced swing-and-miss from his slider, fastball, curve combination.
Brent Suter piggy-backed Peralta. Just like Peralta, Suter was not highly efficient, but he sure was effective. Suter covered the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings, and he struck out two while frustrating the timing of Cubs’ hitters.
While not an offensive explosion, the Brewers offense at least showed up tonight. The Brewers got things rolling in the top of the first. With one out in the inning, Daniel Vogelbach drew a walk. Vogelbach later motored to third as Christian Yelich singled past the glove of Anthony Rizzo. Both runners trotted to home plate as Travis Shaw harkened back to 2018 with a 3-run opposite field homer.
Omar Narvaez supplied the power behind the fourth and final run of the game. In the top of the fourth, Narvaez launched a solo shot over the left centerfield wall to make it 4-0. That 4-0 score would stand for the rest of the night.
That said things did get interesting in the bottom of the ninth as the benches cleared. Last night, Willson Contreras was hit in the head by a wild pitch. Brad Boxberger hit Contreras again tonight, but this time it was in the arm. Contreras took exception as he held up two fingers to demonstrate that was the second time he had been hit by a Brewers’ pitcher. On an 0-2 count and a 4-0 lead, it is unlikely that Boxberger was trying to hit Narvaez, but Narvaez was emotional over the affair.
The Brewers and Cubs finish out this 3-game series tomorrow afternoon in Wrigley Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:20 CT. Brandon Woodruff gets the ball for Milwaukee against Kyle Hendricks. Listen to the game on WTMJ 620 or Brewers Radio Network. Bally Sports Wisconsin will broadcast the game on television.
