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 And they might have been right, too, except for two costly errors in
the top of the inning that allowed the Cubs to add an insurance run
that proved to be the difference in a 7-6 victory on Friday night at
Miller Park.
"Every out is important," said Brewers manager Craig Counsell, whose
team is 2-3 since he took over as manager on Monday. "Every play is
important. If you want to win games, you've got to commit to every
out being important, no matter the score."
A barrage of home runs marred an otherwise masterful outing by
right-hander Jimmy Nelson, who struck out a career-high 11 in seven
innings but surrendered three home runs, including a two-run shot to
right fielder Jorge Soler in the fourth that made it 4-1.
The Brewers got one run back in the sixth on a solo home run by left
fielder Khris Davis, who added two RBI singles to finish 3-for-4.
Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro led off the ninth with a solo home run
off right-hander Brandon Kintzler, who retired the next two batters
before allowing a single to second baseman Addison Russell that
turned out to be the game's turning point.
Russell moved to second when Brewers third baseman Elian Hernandez
-- playing in place of Aramis Ramirez, who was scratched just before
the game with a tight back -- botched the throw to first. Things got
worse when second baseman Scooter Gennett's throw to third bounced
across the diamond, sending Russell to third.
"It was one of those where I can't see what's going on behind me,"
Gennett said. "We're taught to pick up the ball and if it's a fast
guy like that, we usually just throw it in. It's one of those things
that happened. How it ended up, I should have just ran the ball in."
Kintzler walked center fielder Dexter Fowler but looked like he was
about to escape with any more damage. but Cubs manager Joe Maddon
challenged first base umpire Tom Hallon's call that third baseman
Kris Bryant was out on an infield hit to short. After a two-minute
and four-second review, the call was overturned and the Russell
scored to make it 7-3.
"He's been struggling at the plate, but he hits a routine ground
ball to shortstop, beats it out, we score a run," Maddon said. "How
many guys in baseball today do that? Routine ground ball to short --
we're up, it looks like we're in pretty good shape. He beats out the
ground ball. We challenge. Run scores. That's the game right there."
The run turned out to be huge as Rondon got into trouble quickly.
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He walked Herrera to open the inning and after getting pinch-hitter
Jason Rodgers to hit into a force at second, walked shortstop Jean
Segura to put runners at first and second. Gennett flied out to
left. Braun, who had walked twice, doubled and scored twice in four
trips, then launched Rondon's first offering to the stands in right
to make it a one-run game.
Milwaukee wasn't quite done yet. First baseman Adam Lind and Davis
followed with singles, but center fielder Gerardo Parra struck out
to end it.
"I thought today he just got wild with his fastball," Maddon said of
Rondon. "You should never get wild with your fastball. So when
you're out there just throwing fastball, fastball, fastball and
you're walking people, throw something else. That's like
catching-pitching 101: Do not permit a pitcher to get wild with his
fastball. And the pitcher should know that."
Fowler got things started for the Cubs by smashing Nelson's second
pitch of the game for his second home run of the season. First
baseman Anthony Rizzo hit his sixth of the year to lead off the
fourth and catcher Miguel Montero followed with a double to set up
Soler's big blast.
Milwaukee had a golden opportunity in the eighth, loading the bases
with two outs, but catcher Martin Maldonado struck out to end the
inning.
NOTES: Milwaukee recalled RHP Brandon Kintzler from Triple-A
Colorado Springs Friday. Kintzler replaces RHP Rob Wooten, who was
optioned to Colorado Springs Thursday night. ... Brewers CF Carlos
Gomez was not in the lineup for the second straight game because of
a left hip flexor ... CF Dexter Fowler returned to the Cubs' lineup
on Friday after serving as a pinch-hitter on Thursday in St. Louis.
Fowler came into the game mired in a 2-for-23 slump but led off with
a home run and went 2-for-4.
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