In the midst of a five-game trip against the Brewers and then the Chicago White Sox, the Cubs won’t board a plane until jetting to Oakland for a series against the A’s beginning August 3.
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Believe it or not, a reporter asked that question before the Cubs’ 6-1 loss to rookie Zach Davies and the Brewers Saturday night at Miller Park. He went 3-for-3 with a walk and drove in four runs – his first production of any kind since the all-star break.
The Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers play a rubber game Sunday afternoon.
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Junior Guerra, left, thanks center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis after Chicago Cubs’ Tommy La Stella was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 24, 2016, in Milwaukee.
ORIOLES 5, INDIANS 2: In Baltimore, Mark Trumbo hit his major league-leading 30th home run, and Kevin Gausman pitched seven shutout innings to lead Baltimore. “It was nearly too much”, Nathan said. He pitched around a two out double by Anthony Rizzo in the first, a two walk second, and a two out single in the third. Guerra is 4-2 with a 2.76 ERA in seven home outings.
And that you don’t really need an eight-man bullpen for October, because Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester should be pitching deep into games, leaving the high-leverage situations for Pedro Strop, Hector Rondon and whoever else emerges across the next two-plus months.
“I mean, we’re at the point where we’re going to have to figure out something to accommodate any road request he makes that makes him feel at home, that’s for sure”, joked manager Craig Counsell. The Brewers are 16-37 in their last 53 vs. National League Central and 10-4 in Guerras last 14 starts.
Anyway, whatever Bosio said must have worked, because Nathan proceeded to strike out the three best hitters in the Brewers lineup, Ryan Braun, Jonathan Lucroy and Chris Carter.
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“It was without a doubt the hottest game of the year, and it was one of the longer games, so guys were exhausted, for sure”, Counsell said. He allowed five runs on four hits and surrendered two homers in a game for the first time this season (see full recap). Through 19 starts this season, the lefty is now 10-4 with a 2.89 ERA and he has only given up a total of 96 base hits in 118.1 innings. They also lost catcher Buster Posey, who fouled a ball off his right foot and left with a bruise. The righty has struggled over his past six outings, going 0-4 with a 9.13 ERA. Jonathan Villar stole third while Lester held the ball on the mound.
