While it certainly was not the 8-7 slugfest which came in a losing effort against the Chicago Cubs on Friday, Saturday was too familiar a pattern for the Milwaukee Brewers: very little run production, very few hits, and a bad bullpen…
Peralta’s Strong Start
First and foremost, the good part of the day: Freddy Peralta. The longtime Brewers starting pitcher was extremely efficient and did his job pitching six innings allowing four hits, two runs courtesy of a home run and struck out five Cubs hitters.
Brewers Up and Down day on Offense
It was a struggle for the Brewers offense all afternoon against Cubs starting pitcher Marcus Stroman who allowed just one run, two hits and struck out five Milwaukee batters in seven and 2/3 innings pitched. However, the Cubs bullpen was another story…
As Stroman exited to a standing ovation from the Wrigley crowd, he was responsible for a runner on base via a walk.
In the blink of an eye, Cubs reliever Rowan Wick offered Brewers shortstop Willy Adames a fastball right down the middle of the plate and Adames launched a two run home run to give the Brewers a 3-2 lead.
HE'S HIM#ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/A4CCmnPnhF
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 20, 2022
Brewers Bad Bullpen Causes Extra Innings
Nonetheless, the Brewers looked to be in control and secure a win in the ninth inning. Unfortunately, Brewers closer Devin Williams blew the save by allowing a single to Nick Madrigal.
Related: Devin Williams Has Had a Better Start to His Career than Josh Hader
In the tenth, pinch hitter Mike Brosseau drove in runner Luis Urias to re-claim the lead 4-3. All’s well that ends well, right? (Sigh).
Brosseau>Lefties@mikebrosseau10 | #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/DcQIn4fUBK
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 20, 2022
When the Cubs had their chance to tie in the bottom of the tenth, it was anything but straightforward. Runner Ian Happ stole third with one out. What happened next was… bizarre.
An Inexcusable Error
Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich caught what seemed to be a routine fly ball but then dropped it as he was trying to throw it to home plate and alertly, Ian Happ recognized that and scored to tie the game at four.
In the eleventh, the Brewers took the lead 5-4 thanks to an RBI groundout from Kolten Wong.
Sliding into the lead like@TheCUTCH22 | #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/U09mq8Bkpp
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 20, 2022
Bullpen Had a Second Chance… and did not take advantage of it
The Brewers bullpen? Stop me if you’ve heard this before: THEY BLEW ANOTHER LEAD. This time in the bottom of the eleventh.
The Cubs tied the game thanks to a double from Patrick Wisdom to bring home Nico Hoerner and then Wilson Contreras drove in Rafael Ortega against pitcher Peter Strzelecki to win the game 6-5.
With this crushing defeat, the Brewers fall to 63-56 on the year and look to avoid being swept on Sunday afternoon the dominant right hander Woodruff who has a record of 9-3 on the season and an earned run average of 3.53 in 18 starts. The Cubs will counter with left hander Justin Steele who has a 4-7 record in 22 starts this year.
First pitch on Sunday is scheduled for 1:20 PM. For more Wisconsin sports related content, follow Wisconsin Sports Heroics on Twitter @WiSportsHeroics and James Jefferson @J16James.
