The Milwaukee Brewers won the first game of their four-game series at American Family Field against the Chicago Cubs. Despite an early pitching battle between Brewers rookie Robert Gasser (six innings pitched, three hits, no runs, and seven strikeouts) and Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (seven innings pitched, three hits, no runs, one walk, and eight strikeouts), Milwaukee was able to break through in the eighth inning for five runs.
After Sal Frelick scored on an error, Willy Adames launched a three-run home run to give the Brewers a 4-0 lead. Jackson Chourio added an RBI double later in the inning. While Chicago scored a run in the ninth off of Hoby Milner, the Brewers held on for an emotional victory.
The Milwaukee Brewers Defeated Chicago Cubs Manager Craig Counsell in His First Game Back at American Family Field
Of course, the high level of emotion in the victory was because of the fact that it was Cubs’ manager Craig Counsell’s first game managing against his former team in Milwaukee. Prior to the start of the game, the Brewers played a tribute video for the winningest manager in franchise history. It was met with a chorus of boos from fans.
In the hours leading up to the game, Counsell and Brewers manager Pat Murphy both downplayed the rivalry atmosphere for their teams. To them, it was just another game. That being said, it was not just another game for the fans, and it turns out that the Milwaukee players really did play off of that energy.
After the game, Adames, who mashed that three-run home run, said: “I feel like [the fans] were a little extra today, because of Counsell. But we love that” He then added that he hopes the energy is that high in the stands for the entirety of the series.
Chicago Cubs Manager Craig Counsell Reveals Who Got Him Thinking About Leaving the Milwaukee Brewers
Mjs Counsell Stearns 1
Also prior to the game, Counsell met with Milwaukee reporters for a longer media session than usual. One of the questions he was asked was about when he started thinking about leaving Milwaukee. He replied:
This afternoon, @CyrtHogg asked Craig Counsell if he felt throughout last season that it was time for a change👇
“I think when you are at a place for a long time, it’s natural to think about what if I did something different. Frankly David Stearns made me think about it a lot.” pic.twitter.com/T3PDrHnbb1
— Hunter Baumgardt (@hunterbonair) May 27, 2024
“I think when you are at a place for a long time, it’s natural to think about what if I did something different. Frankly David Stearns made me think about it a lot.”
Stearns, of course, is the former Brewers general manager who first hired Counsell to lead the Brewers. Stearns left Milwaukee to become the President of Baseball Operations for the New York Mets.
While Stearns was named to that title just this past offseason, it was rumored for years that he was going to leave the Brewers organization once his contract was up. In 2020, the Brewers promoted Matt Arnold to general manager while Stearns remained as the President of Baseball Operations in Milwaukee.
In contrast. Counsell always marketed himself as a hometown guy that had grown up in Milwaukee and was managing the team he cheered for as a kid. In MLB’s smallest market, this made him very popular.
While everyone assumed Stearns was going to leave, Counsell leaving took everyone by surprise and led to feelings of betrayal, especially since he went to manage the Cubs.
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
