He hopes his third crack at the Brewers this season will produce a milestone victory? the Cubs haven?t had a 20-game victor since Jon Lieber in 2001 and have had only two since 1977.
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Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Cesar Jimenez returns to the mound… Chicago, which remains two games behind Pittsburgh for the top wild-card spot and six back of St. Louis in the National League Central, has won eight straight meetings and leads the season series 10-4. “It doesn’t matter how many times I give up runs in the first inning, they battled back and they continue to do that”. The Cubs have won six of their last nine when scoring more than three runs.
Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers the Chicago Cubs for ESPNChicago.com and ESPN Radio 1000. “It doesn’t look that great right now, but sometimes you have to compete with what you’ve got”.
By all accounts, Hammel is back to full health since his midseason leg injury, and all involved say his stuff is as good as it was during his early season success.
The Cubs have already adjusted the rotation through the Pirates series, skipping Dan Haren’s turn and going with Lester, Hammel and Arrieta (in that order), so Hammel will get a chance to prove himself in a game against the Cubs’ immediate rival for playoff position. Dexter Fowler followed up Castro’s RBI double with a two-run double that ricocheted off the second base bag. I don’t want anyone blaming him on that error. He also struck out two.
Brewers left fielder Khris Davis cut the margin to 9-5 with an eighth-inning solo homer.
P Arrieta is 2-3 with a 3.19 ERA in seven career starts against Milwaukee, including an 0-1 mark and 4.91 ERA in two meetings in 2015. He lacked control in the first but survived with minimal damage after throwing two wild pitches, walking two and allowing two hits, then retired the side in order the next four innings – once with the help of a double play.
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“I need to exorcise some demons for that first inning”, Hammel claimed. Schafer, who also singled, scored on an RBI single by Domingo Santana. Maddon blamed Wrigley Field conditions for a recent rock concert held at the venue. This is Cravy’s second career game against the Cubs. “But you’ve go to show up and do a lot of things right to beat us right now the way we’re playing”. When (note, I said “when”, not “if”) the Cubs host postseason games this year, having the place rocking will be a big boost to this young team.
