*Photo from TSN*
The kids are doing just fine in Cheese Land. Jesse Winker drove in 3 runs, Garrett Mitchell had a two RBI game, and the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Chicago Cubs with a 9-5 victory on Sunday afternoon in Chicago.
After dropping opening day, the Brewers have now won two straight games to win the series and go above .500 on the season. Winker and Mitchell were responsible for 5 of the runs scored, and the Brewers used contact hitting and speed on the basepaths to get the job done.
Brewers manager Craig Counsell said of small ball that "Those things, collectively, they start to add up. They get you an extra out somewhere, they put you in a better position with runners on the bases, they make the pitcher have a little more pressure. That’s where speed shows up. It’s something that we just haven’t had: group team speed. We have a number of players who run really well and it made a big difference in the game today."
Dansby Swanson gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead on an RBI single in the first inning. In the top of the second inning, Brice Turang hit an RBI double for the Brewers to tie the game 1-1. In the bottom half of the inning, Patrick Wisdom hit a solo home run to put the Cubs ahead 2-1. Willy Adames hit a sac fly in the 3rd inning to tie the game 2-2 before Mitchell hit an RBI triple an inning later to put the Brewers ahead 3-2.
Winker added to the lead in the 6th inning, hitting a two run single to give the Brewers a 5-2 lead. Adames was next with an RBI single to make it 6-2, with Winker scoring on a sac fly from Brian Anderson to make it a 7-2 game. An RBI single from Mitchell then made it 8-2. In the top of the 7th, Winker hit a sac fly to make it 9-2. Wisdom hit a solo homer to make it 9-3 and then the Cubs scored twice in the 9th to cut the deficit to 9-5. That score went final.
Counsell said of the team's approach at the plate that "I thought we swung the bats very well. Put the ball in play a lot at the right times, and with the amount of traffic we had, that led to some good results."
Eric Lauer got the start for the Brewers, allowing two runs on 5 hits, striking out 6 hitters in 5 2/3 innings, getting the win. Joel Payamps pitched the next 1 2/3 innings, allowing one run. Javy Guerra allowed two runs before Hoby Milner and Gus Varland had scoreless appearances.
Getting the start for the Cubs was Jameson Taillon, who got the loss after allowing 3 runs on 7 hits in 4 innings pitched. Mark Leiter Jr pitched a scoreless 5th inning before Julian Merryweather allowed 5 runs in 2/3 of an inning. Michael Rucker allowed a run in 1 1/3 innings before Adbert Alzolay pitched two scoreless innings.
Cubs manager David Ross said of the opening series setback that "Everybody's trying to get in rhythm. Hitting, in general, is going to come and go. I know the new guys probably want to put a lot of pressure on themselves to perform."
The Brewers start a series against the New York Mets on Monday, with Freddy Peralta getting the start. The Cubs travel to face the Cincinnati Reds on Monday, with Drew Smyly taking the mound.
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