Cubs takeaways: What we learned in injury-marred road loss to Brewers
The Chicago Cubs had another chance to sweep an opponent. Unfortunately for them, they did not — and they received even worse news, too.
Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta held the powerful Cubs offense at bay with six shutout innings in a 4-0 win Sunday afternoon at American Family Field in Milwaukee. However, the biggest news on the Cubs’ side was left-hander Shota Imanaga leaving the game in the sixth inning with a left hamstring strain.
After Imanaga exited the game, right-hander Julian Merryweather came into a scoreless game with runners on first and third base and two outs. He threw a wild pitch on his first offering, allowing Jackson Churio to score from third, and the Brewers added three more runs before the third out was recorded.
Here are three takeaways as the Cubs (21-14) dropped the series finale against the NL Central rival Brewers (17-18):
Shota exits early
Imanaga left a game early with an injury for the second consecutive start.
The Cubs ace was lifted in the sixth inning of his Tuesday start against the Pittsburgh Pirates with leg cramps. He left Sunday’s game, also in the sixth, with a left hamstring strain.
Imanaga threw 5.2 scoreless innings with four strikeouts and a career-high 12 flyouts before he had to leave. He took the loss and now is 3-2 on the season, as both runs allowed by him actually scored when Merryweather was in the game.
Freddy is scary good
Peralta has been the Brewers’ ace the past five seasons, and he showed why Sunday.
The Cubs entered play averaging 5.94 runs per game, best in MLB, but Peralta threw six shutout innings, struck out seven and allowed just four hits.
Peralta owns a 2.91 ERA in 14 career starts against the Cubs, and has allowed five hits or fewer in each of them. In fact, he owns the lowest opponent batting average against the Cubs — .170 — by any pitcher with at least 75 innings since 1916.
Another sweep missed
The Cubs have had multiple opportunities to sweep opponents so far this season. They left another opportunity on the table in Milwaukee.
The Cubs now are 4-8 in series finales and 1-5 on Sundays. Yes, they’re lead the NL Central, but Craig Counsell and Co. would like to change this trend.
