Given a lead on Rizzo’s first-inning homer, Hammel allowed nine runs – eight earned – and 13 hits in 5 2/3 innings.
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The numbers are such an anomaly that Cubs broadcaster Len Kasper had just gotten done listing them to fans when Rizzo cranked a 97 MPH Peralta fastball to the opposite field for a solo home run in the first inning at Miller Park. Jonathan Villar homered on Hammel’s second pitch, Ryan Braun had an RBI single, Domingo Santana singled in two runs and Martin Maldonado added a sacrifice fly.
“I’m not trying to pitch for anything”, Hammel said.
Incidentally, the #VoteRizzo hashtag is for you to vote for him for this year’s Roberto Clemente Award, given annually to the player who “best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team”.
“No, not at all”, Maddon said, this isn’t an audition for October, before listening to the follow-up question and not automatically ruling out the idea of putting Hammel in the bullpen to see what he could do there.
“I didn’t think it was going to go that far, so I kind of had time to coast and get under it and have a good read”, Broxton said. “I’ll just brush this one off and move on”.
Of course, Maddon had all the answers during his postgame press conference, patiently giving detailed explanations after Hammel surrendered six hits and a walk to the first seven Brewers he faced.
“I made one mistake”, Garza said.
“I don’t feel happy for me, I feel happy for the team because we (won)”, Villar said.
The Chicago Cubs have lost back-to-back games just twice since August.
Peralta retired 11 straight Cubs after allowing a one-out single to Ben Zobrist in the third, a run that was snapped by Tommy La Stella’s double in the seventh.
Note: Reliever Justin Grimm pitched to just one batter in the sixth before leaving the game because of a flu-like symptoms.
“That was big”, Maddon said of the early missed opportunity. Maddon thought about resting Rizzo but reconsidered. “We have a day off (Thursday) so I chose to play him today”.
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With a division lead over the St. Louis Cardinals that’s now 15 1/2 games – and a magic number to clinch the National League Central stuck at 10 – the Cubs can afford to rest the All-Star left side of their infield (like they did with Kris Bryant and Addison Russell), experiment with their pitching staff (Mike Montgomery will start Wednesday night in Milwaukee opposite Matt “I’ll Pitch on the Freaking Moon” Garza) and hold auditions for the playoffs, no matter what they say publicly. Lester took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in his last start on Friday against San Francisco and finished with a complete game three-hitter. Garcia is 2-1 in three starts this year against the Brewers with both wins coming at home. He has a 4.01 ERA in five starts and a 2.29 ERA in 37 relief appearances for Seattle and Chicago this season.
