What Happened
The Chicago Cubs put up a valiant fight early against one of baseball's toughest arms, but defensive miscues and a relentless Milwaukee attack ultimately proved fatal. The Brewers handed the Cubs a 9-5 defeat at Wrigley Field, pushing Chicago nine games back in the National League Central race.
Even though the Cubs chased star right-hander Jacob Misiorowski after four innings—tagging him for five runs—Milwaukee's bullpen slammed the door while their bats capitalized on key Chicago errors. Despite the loss, the Cubs remain just one game back of the NL's top Wild Card spot following a Philadelphia loss.
Fighting Off the Cy Young Contender
Facing Jacob Misiorowski is rarely a pleasant experience for any lineup. The flamethrowing righty entered the contest having allowed no more than three earned runs in each of his previous 25 outings.
However, Chicago's game plan to attack pitches lower in the zone worked wonders early on. Alex Bregman ignited the offense in the first inning with a 105.5 mph blast into the left-field bleachers. In the second, Bregman added a two-run single off a 102-mph heater.
The Cubs forced Misiorowski out after 92 pitches through four frames, proving they could solve the elite arm. Unfortunately, Milwaukee's bullpen completely neutralized Chicago's momentum for the rest of the night.
Defensive Lapses and Pitching Struggles
While the bats did their job early, defensive miscues opened crucial windows for the Brewers. Starter David Peterson battled command issues, exiting before the end of the fourth inning. An unforced fielding error by Bregman in the first and a botched play at the plate in the fourth allowed Milwaukee to extend innings and pad their run count.
To compound matters, closer Jacob Webb was struck on the right forearm by a 102.5 mph liner off the bat of Christian Yelich in the ninth. While X-rays thankfully returned negative for structural damage, Webb is currently dealing with a severe bruise and mounting bullpen struggles after allowing seven runs over his last four appearances.
The Cubs will need sharper execution across all phases of the game if they hope to hold onto their Wild Card positioning down the stretch.
