Cubs takeaways: What we learned as offense explodes to beat Brewers
This Chicago Cubs offense is so explosive.
Baseball’s most productive lineup proved that point during Friday’s 10-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field.
It produced nine runs on nine hits in the first two innings, punishing the Brewers for trying a bullpen game against them.
Michael Busch’s grand slam highlighted that outburst. Then Pete Crow-Armstrong hit the first of his two home runs, and every Cubs hitter reached base before the end of the second inning.
True story.
There was plenty to like about the series-opening victory over an NL Central rival. Let’s go over what we learned while watching another dominant showing from a first-place Cubs team that already has won 20 games out of its first 33:
(Another) offensive explosion
The Cubs’ lineup is so deep, talented and scorching hot right now that it can score a ton in a hurry. That’s what happened in the first two innings, where they took complete control of this game.
Manager Craig Counsell talked pre-game about good offenses putting constant pressure on the opposition, and that happened at the outset. The Cubs made Brewers opener Tyler Alexander and his replacement, previously announced starter Quinn Preister, uncomfortable over the first two innings.
Carson Kelly and Nico Hoerner had RBIs in the first inning, a precursor to the second-inning barrage.
Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki drove in runs, but Busch made this game a true blowout with his grand slam.
Crow-Armstrong continued his torrid hitting with a two-homer day, with one in the second and another in the seventh that got the Cubs to 10 runs for the eight time this season.
The Cubs put the Brewers down so quickly and easily, with contributions up and down the lineup. That’s what makes this group so scary. There aren’t multi-player holes in the lineup, with the top, middle and bottom of the order able to put runs on the board in a hurry.
Brown provides what Counsell demanded
Counsell pulled zero punches after starter Ben Brown’s last outing, saying “we need better.” That’s obviously referring to run prevention. It also was aimed at the distance, or lack thereof, that Brown was going in games.
The Cubs right-hander didn’t make it through the fourth inning last week against the Philadelphia Phillies, which prompted Counsell’s comments, and he only got through four in the outing before that. That’s simply not good enough to keep a bullpen fresh.
Length is important in lopsided games, where the bullpen can get a break instead of entering in low-leverage situations. And Brown provided that, as he was in complete control over six shutout innings, allowing just four hits. He struck out four and impressively didn’t walk a batter.
The Cubs will take that any time, with their young starter providing the quality and length required to give them a chance to win.
Lopez brings cool to the hot corner
The Cubs have struggled to find consistency at third base, especially on defense. Nicky Lopez provided it Friday, with two excellent plays that he made look easy, including this beauty:
Lopez returned to the Cubs on a major-league deal April 23 and while he hasn’t been productive at the plate yet (0-for-7), the team needs defensive stability over anything else, considering how well the entire lineup can hit.
The Cubs obviously will demand complete production from the third-base spot, which has been an issue all season. They’ll take some quality defense as a start, and Lopez gave them that.
It’s fair to expect a continued rotation at third until someone takes firm hold on the starting job.
