Defense has major meltdown
The Milwaukee Brewers were unable to hold a one-run lead in the ninth inning Saturday, but it wasn't because closer Corey Knebel was on the disabled list.
Reliever Jacob Barnes was sabotaged by two errors that helped the Chicago Cubs score four runs and take a 5-2 victory before a sellout crowd of 43,331 at Miller Park, a decision that thrilled the usual onslaught of fans from the south but not supporters of the Brewers.
Defense has been a major shortcoming of the Brewers, particularly on this opening home stand. They have committed a total of 13 errors, most in the major leagues, with 11 coming in their six home games.
The key error in the ninth was committed by third baseman Travis Shaw, who booted a grounder by Javier Baez with two on and one out that might have been a game-ending 5-4-3 double play. It only got uglier after that, including a two-run single by Ian Happ.
FIVE TAKEAWAYS
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR: With runners on second and third and no outs in the fifth, Davies fielded Jason Heyward’s chopper to the right of the mound and threw home to get Tommy La Stella trying to score. The Cubs challenged the call and replays on the video board appeared to show La Stella’s lead leg ahead of catcher Jett Bandy’s tag but perhaps in the air, not touching the plate. After a lengthy review, the call stood. Managers have complained about such plays because the physics of a slide often cause the front foot to pop off the ground and over the plate. Some have said if your foot is over the plate, it should count as a run but that isn’t likely to ever become a rule.
THE SHADOW KNOWS: The Miller Park roof was closed on the 30degree day but that didn’t prevent shadows from crossing home plate as the sun shone through the windows high above the first-base side. This has been a long-standing issue during the late afternoon and hitters have complained how difficult it is to see the ball — coming from sunlight to shadow, or vice versa. Davies and Darvish were throwing the ball well and probably didn’t need the help, but it certainly didn’t hurt their cause. The sun would play a different role when centerfielder Lorenzo Cain couldn't find Bryant's deep fly in the eighth, the ball glancing off his glove for a triple.
YELICH STILL MIA: Outfielder Christian Yelich missed his third consecutive game with right oblique tightness, and manager Craig Counsell said he is not expected to play in the series finale on Sunday, either. “I think we might be in good shape on Monday (in St. Louis),” Counsell said. “He’s progressing.” Yelich will not be allowed to take batting practice until he has no discomfort in the oblique.
NEVER GOING TO BE A BREWER: It was the first time the Brewers faced Darvish since he signed a $126 million free-agent deal with the Cubs in the off-season. There were reports that Milwaukee was in on the bidding as well with an offer of at least $100 million but they were greatly exaggerated. Accordingly, Counsell didn’t think Darvish would get a strong negative reaction from Brewers fans: “I don’t think we were jilted at the altar.”
THE DROUGHT ENDS: Nobody notices when a player goes 0 for 12 in the middle of the season. When you do it at the start, the .000 batting average might as well be displayed in neon lights. Eric Sogard became the last Brewer to get a hit this season, slugging a double in the eighth that led to a run that snapped a 1-1 tie.
RECORD
This year: 5-4 Last year: 4-5
ATTENDANCE
Saturday: 43,331 (2nd sellout) Year to date: 206,226 (34,371 avg.)
Last year: 182,254 (30,376 avg.)
UP NEXT
Sunday: Brewers vs. Cubs, 1:10 p.m. Milwaukee RHP Chase Anderson (0-0, 3.60) vs. Chicago LHP Jose Quintana (0-1, 9.00). TV: FS Wisconsin. Radio: AM-620.