|
 Trailing 1-0 and with a chance to break out with a least a run,
Maddon lifted Hendricks for pinch hitter Tommy La Stella in the
fifth inning. The move paid off as La Stella drew a walk to load the
bases and set up Dexter Fowler's run-scoring sacrifice fly.
"I felt we had to do it right there," said Maddon after the Cubs
held on for a 4-3 victory on a frigid night at Wrigley Field. "Tommy
was the right guy in that moment. It would have been nice to get
more runs -- we had the opportunity -- but getting one was plenty."
Hendricks said he fully understood the move.
"It was a tough day to hit, wind blowing and really cold and how
many chances are you going to get?" said Hendricks, who had no
decision. "Their guy was throwing really well against us so I
completely understand. ... Sometimes situations happen like that."
The Cubs added more in the next inning as Addison Russell's two-run
triple gave the Cubs their first lead of the night at 3-1. Russell's
triple, his first, drove in Kris Bryant and Ben Zobrist to break a
1-1 tie.
 Adam Warren (2-0) worked two relief innings and struck out three to
pick up the win for the Cubs (15-5). The Brewers (8-12) dropped
their fourth in five games.
Milwaukee starter Jimmy Nelson ultimately took the loss, departing
with the score tied at 1-1 with one out in the sixth and runners on
first and second.
"The Cubs were pretty patient today," said Nelson, who threw 109
pitches. "They probably only swung at a handful of off speed pitches
and they were attacking the fastball and spilling some pretty good
pitches. I just walked too many guys and got my pitch count up
there."
Brewers reliever Carlos Torres gave up a two-out triple to Russell
as the Cubs opened a 3-1 lead.
Nelson (3-2) pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs (one earned)
and two hits. He walked four and struck out six.
Anthony Rizzo made it 4-1 in the seventh with an RBI double to
center off Brewers reliever Blaine Boyer.
Brewers pinch-hitter Ryan Braun doubled into the right-field corner
off Pedro Strop with one out in the eighth, driving two runs home to
cut the deficit to 4-3.
The Cubs had bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the eighth
against Brewers reliever Michael Blazek, who got out of the jam as
Jason Heyward grounded to first.
Hector Rondon faced four batters in a scoreless ninth to collect his
fourth save.
The game was played in 40 degree weather with 16 mph north winds and
a game-time wind chill measuring 34 degrees.
[to top of second column] |
"It's not exactly fun to play in weather conditions like that, but
it's just a part of it," said Nelson. "It's just stuff we have to do
at the beginning of the season and sometimes at the end of the
season. It's not really a crutch."
The Brewers opened a 1-0 lead in the second. Kirk Nieuwenhuis
doubled Chris Carter to third with none out and Aaron Hill's
sacrifice fly to left brought Carter home.
Nelson didn't allow a hit until Bryant's one-out double down the
left-field line in the fourth. He was stranded there as Rizzo struck
out swinging and Zobrist popped to left.
The Cubs loaded the bases in the fifth and evened the score on
Fowler's one-out sacrifice fly to center that scored Jorge Soler
from third.
Hendricks worked five innings, allowing one run and two hits while
striking out four and walking one.
"He understood the situation completely and that does not happen
every time," Maddon said. "He was pitching great, there was no
reason to take him out (but) it's a National League move."
The Cubs have had no rainouts or weather delays this season, but
that could change Wednesday night with rain in the forecast. The
series concludes with Thursday's scheduled afternoon game.
NOTES: Brewers LF Ryan Braun was out of the starting lineup but
pinch hit in the eighth inning. He extended his hitting streak to
eight games (14-for-26, .538) after entering the game fourth in the
National League with a .364 average. ... Tuesday's game between
Chicago and Milwaukee was the first of 19 scheduled games this
season. After this week's three-game series, they'll meet again on
May 17-19 in Milwaukee. The Cubs were 14-5 against the Brewers last
year. ... Chicago C Miguel Montero was a late scratch from the
starting lineup, suffering from back stiffness. David Ross worked in
his place. ... Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta (4-0, 0.87 ERA) makes his first
start since throwing last week's no-hitter in Cincinnati when he
faces Brewers RHP Taylor Jungmann (0-3, 8.47 ERA) in Wednesday's
middle game. Arrieta was named NL Player of the Week on Monday.
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
