No defense for the squeeze
Sveum’s former team scores twice on bunts by Marcum, Gomez
A team with the firepower of the Milwaukee Brewers usually relies on that muscle to score.
But the defending National League Central champs used another element Monday that helped make the difference in their 7-5 victory against the Cubs: two squeeze plays.
“It wasn’t so much a surprise, but a matter of when you’re going to pitch out [anticipating it],’’ said Cubs manager Dale Sveum, who was a Brewers coach the last six seasons, the last three as hitting coach. “I know they do that. Every one of their pitchers can handle the bat. It adds on runs, and they have a luxury when you have pitchers who can handle the bat.’’
The first came in the fourth, when pitcher Shaun Marcum (1-0) put down a bunt as shortstop Alex Gonzalez ran in from third, scoring what at the time was the go-ahead run at 3-2. The squeeze came again in the eighth, when outfielder Carlos Gomez put down a bunt as Mat Gamel ran home.
“You don’t see [squeeze plays] too often,’’ Cubs starter Chris Volstad said. “Every run is important and any way you can get it, I guess.’’
The Brewers scored four other runs in more-conventional fashion. Ex-cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez got two RBI with a sacrifice fly and double, Rickie Weeks homered in the third and Gamel (triple) and Jonathan Lucroy (sacrifice fly) drove in the others.
But the two squeezed-in runs proved big when the Cubs rallied in the ninth from a 7-3 deficit. Three Brewers pitchers worked in the inning, that saw Ian Stewart (double) and pinch hitter Steve Clevenger (single) get hits, Marlon Byrd and Darwin Barney draw walks and two Brewers’ errors contribute to the rally.
The bases were loaded with two outs when Starlin Castro batted against John Axford (first save). Castro’s 43-game streak of reaching base safely and his 14-game hit- ting streak were on the line.
Castro took a called third strike to end the game.
Barney was the unlikely hitter of the Cubs’ first homer of the season. It came in the first off Marcum and just reached the left-field basket.
Bryan Lahair’s first home run of the season went farther, leaving the park over the right-field wall in the second inning.
The only other Cubs’ run before the ninth came in the fifth. Center fielder Nyjer Morgan lost sight of Geovany Soto’s fly ball that fell behind him for a triple and Soto scored on pinch hitter Blake DeWitt’s sacrifice fly.
Volstad worked five innings and left in a 3-3 tie, but a long first inning elevated his pitch count.
“I felt I got better as the game went on, but the first inning kind of got me. It’s something to work on. I threw some good pitches. I definitely know I’m better than that.’’
The loss went to reliever Shawn Camp (0-1), who was charged with three runs.
Given his history with the Brewers, Sveum was the logical choice to prepare the scouting report on the visitors.
“It definitely gives you an edge, but you still have to make your pitches,’’ he said. “With the video equipment you have, you get to know people as well as I do. I know the insights and the mental part of people — what the video doesn’t show — and that will benefit us.’’
Facing the Brewers this year is different because of the absence of slugger Prince Fielder, who left as a free agent for Detroit.
“The lineup is extremely different,’’ Sveum said. “That’s one big left-handed bat that had been a staple. There’s only one Prince Fielder and the threat that guy brings. Batting behind Ryan Braun for six years was huge for Braun, too.’’
Braun, the defending NL MVP whose award was tainted by an alleged positive drug test disclosed during the winter, was booed each time he batted.