Bottom of Brewers’ lineup hands Cubs third straight loss
The Brewers are a pesky bunch and boy, did they showcase it Sunday afternoon.
The Cubs jumped out to a 1st inning lead grinding long plate appearances against Brewers starter Josh Lindblom. But the Brewers rallied, took the lead and rallied once again even after the Cubs had tied it up to beat the Cubs 6-5 in the series finale at Wrigley Field on Sunday.
It marked the first series loss for the Cubs this season. All 3 losses against the Cubs were by 1 run each.
“I felt like that series coulda gone either way,” Jon Lester said. “They played just a little bit better than us and beat us. Sometimes you tip your hat and move on to the next series.
“I think even though it’s a short season, we still need to have that mindset.”
The Brewers’ bottom of the lineup gave the Cubs fits on Sunday. Luis Urías and Orlando Arcia – Milwaukee’s 8- and 9-hole hitters – were a combined 6-for-8 with 13 total bases.
Kyle Schwarber put the Cubs on the board in the 1st with an RBI-single that plated Anthony Rizzo. Steven Souza Jr., who started in right field for Jason Heyward after he was a late scratch with mid-back tightness, doubled home Willson Contreras and Schwarber giving the Cubs a 3-0 lead. The Cubs brought 7 hitters to the plate and forced Lindblom to throw 29 pitches in the 1st.
But Lindblom settled down and the Brewers’ bottom of the order sparked their rally.
In the 3rd inning, Urías and Arcia connected on back-to-back singles. Two batters later, Keston Hiura crushed a 419-foot home run to center field to tie the game.
“That big home run to center from Keston to get back tied that was a big blow,” David Ross said. “I thought he was throwing the ball really well. [He] grinded out some innings there were things really weren’t going his way.”
Urías and Arcia found even more success against Lester. Urías tripled to lead off the 5th and Arcia followed with a home run to left field.
Arcia finished a double shy of hitting for the cycle. Arcia is hitting 8-for-21 (.381) against the Cubs this season with 4 RBIs.
Jason Kipnis continued his success with runners in scoring position. He ripped a bases-loaded single to tie the game in the 6th. Kipnis is hitting .400 with 7 in 20 at-bats with runners in scoring position.
But, Arcia struck again.
He tripled to lead off the 7th and Ryan Braun singled him home to give the Brewers the lead. It was his 138th career RBI against the Cubs.
It’s the first series the Cubs have dropped all season. They’ll look to bounce back Monday as they take on the Cardinals in a doubleheader. Coverage begins at 3 p.m. on Marquee Sports Network.