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 The Milwaukee right-hander scattered six hits and struck out six
as he helped lead the Brewers to a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs
in the opener of a four-game Wrigley Field series.
Last Wednesday against the Giants, Gallardo gave up four runs on
nine hits and lasted just four innings.
The difference on Monday?
"I think command (of) the fastball to both sides of the plate and I
could go up out of the zone whenever I needed to which was something
that I struggled with last time," Gallardo said.
Gallardo (7-6) out-dueled Cubs starter Jake Arrieta -- who at one
point had retired 13 straight Brewers. Gallardo allowed just one
earned run while walking none in his seven-inning outing.
And he did a real nice job," Brewers manager Ron Roenickesaid. "He
mixed in his slider, which is usually always good. And the curve
balls -- he got some big outs and strikeouts with his curve ball."
Milwaukee (66-53) snapped a 1-1 tie in the seventh when left fielder
Khris Davis singled down the left-field line off Arrieta, driving in
second baseman Scooter Gennett with two outs.
Arrieta (6-4) departed with one out in the eighth and a runner on
first after throwing 95 pitches for the Cubs (50-67).
"He did a nice job, he took us deep, was pretty efficient and kept
us in the ballgame," said Cubs manager Rick Renteria. "Both those
guys tonight were pretty good. (Arrieta) got stung early with a solo
homer but after that kept grinding it out."
Arrieta allowed two earned runs on five hits, while striking out
five and walking one.
Right-handed reliever Francisco Rodriguez allowed one hit and struck
out two in the ninth for his 36th save.
The Brewers nearly had an earlier run in the seventh, but right
fielder Ryan Braun was thrown out at the plate after he tried to
score from second on Gennett's double to the center-field ivy.
Braun was tagged in front of the plate by Cubs catcher Welington
Castillo, who hauled in a relay throw from shortstop Starlin Castro.
Gennett then came home on Davis' base hit.
The Brewers added a run in the ninth when third baseman Aramis
Ramirez doubled to left with two outs and scored on Gennett's base
hit to center off reliever Justin Grimm.
The Brewers grabbed a 1-0 lead with two outs in the second when
first baseman Mark Reynolds took Arrieta's first pitch and sent it
beyond the outside fence in left field for his 20th home run of the
season.
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A fan jumped up and caught the ball just before it left the park.
The Cubs threatened in the fourth when rookie second baseman Javier Baez
doubled down the right-field line to lead off. But Baez was stranded as
first baseman Anthony Rizzo struck out, Castro lined out to left and
third baseman Luis Valbuena popped out.
Chicago pushed the tying run home in the fifth. With runners at first
and second, left fielder Chris Coghlan doubled to right to score right
fielder Justin Ruggiano.
NOTES: Mark Reynolds and Lyle Overbay have played a combined 111 games
at first base for the Brewers, a big improvement over last year, when
the Brewers handled first base by committee. "We put a bunch of guys
there last year that hadn't played the position," manager Ron Roenicke
said. "I don't know how many we even played (and) we suffered
defensively." ... RHP Francisco Rodriguez shared the major league saves
lead with St. Louis' Trevor Rosenthal. Both had 35 entering Monday, but
Rodriguez added his 36th save on Monday. ... C Jonathan Lucroy is on
pace for 52 doubles this season and is currently second in the league
with 38. ... The Brewers send RHP Wily Peralta (14-6, 3.42 ERA) against
Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks (3-1, 2.10 ERA) in Tuesday's second game. ...
Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo entered Monday needing just one extra-base hit to
hit 150 for his career. His 25 home runs are four more than his previous
career high set in 2013. ... Cubs batters struck out 44 times in last
weekend's Tampa Bay series, a franchise record for three straight games
against one team (previous was 41 vs. Houston between May 30-June 1,
2013). ... The Cubs are among three National League teams to top 2
million in attendance so far. Chicago's paid home attendance is
2,054,030 through 56 games. The Dodgers lead with 2,132,861.
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