Third loss shows gap between Brewers, Cubs
If this weekend’s series was any indication, there’s still quite a gap between the Milwaukee Brewers and the reigning National League Central Division champion Chicago Cubs.
The Brewers managed just three hits against left-hander José Quintana and three Cubs relievers, went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position and committed yet another error that led to a run in a 3-0 loss on Sunday afternoon at Miller Park.
It was Milwaukee’s third loss in the four-game series, and also the third time the team has been shut out in the last five games. Compare that to last season, when the Brewers were shut out at total of eight times and weren’t blanked for the third time until June 13.
They also committed seven errors in the series, equaling the number of runs they scored.
Chase Anderson started for the Brewers and pitched well, allowing four hits, two runs and two walks over his six-inning stint. But the Brewers gave him next to no support against Quintana & Co.
The Cubs scored single runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh.
The Brewers’ best chance to score came in the sixth, when they got a pair of runners on with one out. Ryan Braun followed by scorching a ball to right field that was right at Jason Heyward, and then Jesús Aguilar struck out to end the threat.
FIVE TAKEAWAYS
It starts here: If the Brewers rotation is going to get back on track, it has to begin with Anderson and Zach Davies, the No. 1 and 2 starters. The pair has combined to throw consecutive quality starts – the first time the Brewers have accomplished the feat since they made four straight from Aug. 30-Sept. 2, 2017. The Brewers have three quality starts overall in 2018, with two of them coming from Anderson.
Back in there: Aguilar and Hernán Pérez were both in the starting lineup, with the Cubs throwing the left-hander Quintana. Playing time has been scarce for both Aguilar and Pérez, who entered the day with the fewest and second-fewest number of at-bats respectively among position players currently on the roster. Aguilar started at first base and Pérez at third in place of Travis Shaw.
No defense: The Brewers have struggled with the gloves to the tune of a major-league-leading 13 errors coming into Sunday, and Aguilar made another in the seventh that led to a run. That gave Milwaukee at least one error in nine of its last 10 games, including each of its last seven.
“The (thing) that I’m concerned about is the carelessness that we’ve had with some of our mistakes,” manager Craig Counsell said before the game. “Not the physical play; it’s the carelessness of some of our errors. That’s the thing we have to tighten up.”
Mixed bag: Taylor Williams, fresh off the plane from Class AAA Colorado Springs, was thrown right into the fire by Counsell. Pitching the seventh, he opened by striking out Addison Russell with a 97 mph fastball and then fell victim to a pair of softly hit singles and the Aguilar error as the Cubs pushed a run across. Williams then closed by striking out Albert Almora Jr. and Kris Bryant.
Welcome back: An inning after Williams, Adrian Houser made his 2018 Brewers debut. Called up Friday after Corey Knebel was placed on the disabled list, Houser held the Cubs scoreless over two innings and allowed one hit while striking out three. Houser, who like Williams is back from Tommy John surgery, also topped out at 97 mph. His reward after the game? He was optioned back to Class AA Biloxi, with the Brewers set to make another roster move Monday.
RECORD
This year: 5-5 Last year: 5-5
ATTENDANCE
Sunday: 39,282
Year to date: 245,508 (35,073 avg.) Last year: 220,737 (31,534 avg.)
UP NEXT
Monday: Brewers vs. Cardinals, 6:05 p.m. Milwaukee RHP Jhoulys Chacín (0-1, 7.00) vs. St. Louis RHP Miles Mikolas (1-0, 6.35). TV: FS Wisconsin, ESPN. Radio: AM-620.