Heyward’s late homer is difference
Cubs tie game in seventh inning
A well-played and entertaining series between the two top teams in the National League Central continued on Saturday night at Miller Park.
But this time, the Milwaukee Brewers came out on the losing end.
Jason Heyward’s 11th-inning home run off Jared Hughes was the difference as the Brewers were outlasted by the Chicago Cubs, 2-1, in front of a crowd of 44,709 – the largest to see a game in Milwaukee this season.
It was the Brewers who edged the Cubs, 2-1, in the teams’ first meeting on Friday night. But the full game they picked up in the standings has now disappeared, and the Cubs head into the series finale Sunday with their division lead back up to 1 1/2 games.
While Hughes gave up the decisive homer, the bullpen was still solid after starter Junior Guerra lasted just three innings.
Six relievers combined to limit the Cubs to five hits and three walks over eight innings, but Jacob Barnes allowed the tying run in the seventh before Heyward got to Hughes and decided it in the 11th.
All told, Milwaukee’s pitching staff has limited Chicago’s high-powered offense to three runs and 11 hits while striking out 24 through 20 total innings. Seventeen of those strikeouts came in this one, marking the 13th time in franchise history that total has been reached in a single game.
It’s been a different story for the Brewers’ hitters, however, as they’ve managed to scrape together a total of three runs and 11 hits while going 0 for 16 with runners in scoring position and stranding a total of 17.
Guerra appeared no closer to figuring out his woes, as he lasted just three innings. It was his shortest start since opening day, when he was forced out early with a right-calf strain.
He issued two walks in the second and two more in the third while displaying the same lack of command that plagued him in his previous start, a four-inning losing effort in Philadelphia.
The final two walks were issued to Bryant and Anthony Rizzo with two outs in the third. And after Eric Sogard’s throwing error on a surefire ground ball out loaded the bases for Kyle Schwarber, it took a diving catch in right-center by Lewis Brinson to keep the Cubs off the board.
With Guerra’s spot in the batting order leading off the bottom of the third, manager Craig Counsell wasted no time
lifting Guerra for pinchhitter Kirk Nieuwenhuis despite Guerra’s pitch count sitting at only 61.
He exited having allowed one hit to go along with the four walks and four strikeouts.
Milwaukee did grab another first-inning lead, with Eric Thames singling and Braun driving him in with a double off Kyle Hendricks to make it 1-0.
It held that advantage until the seventh, thanks to some strong relief work from Josh Hader. The left-hander took over for Guerra in the fourth and fired three scoreless, striking out six overall in a 53-pitch outing.
Through his first 14 major-league appearances, Hader now sports a 0.90 earned run average with 24 strikeouts in 20 innings. He’s also limited opposing batters to a collective .123 average. STAT SHEET
The Brewers entered Saturday leading the National League in both homers (155) and stolen bases (89).
Ryan Braun came into Saturday a career .334 hitter with 32 homers, 116 RBI and 108 runs scored in 144 games against the Cubs. TAKEAWAY
The Brewers have hung tough so far against the Cubs, who came into the series with some serious momentum. The pitching has been terrific on both sides, and there’s been some nice defense as well. All in all, some very entertaining baseball. RECORD
This year: 55-51 (29-25 home; 26-26 away)
Last year: 48-58 ATTENDANCE
Saturday: 44,709 (seventh sellout)
2017 total: 1,622,950 (30,055 avg.)
Last year: 1,589,663 (29,438 avg.)