It was a Memorial Day to remember for the Milwaukee Brewers as they swept a doubleheader from the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. In the opener, former number one pick Ethan Small made his major league debut with the Brewer rotation thinned by injury. Brandon Woodruff joined Freddy Peralta on the injured list, getting placed on the 15 day IL with a high ankle sprain on Monday. Small got through the first two innings just fine but ran into trouble in the third, giving up a couple of hits and walking four batters as Chicago scored twice. The Brewers used the long ball to get control of the back and forth game. Jace Peterson and Tyrone Taylor each left the year but it was Luis Urias who delivered the big knock, a three run blast that broke a 4-4 tie. The Cubs scored a couple of runs late but Josh Hader was able to close out the ninth for his 17th save of the year.
In the nightcap, the Brewers started another young pitcher in Aaron Ashby who gave the Crew six solid innings, allowing a run on five hits while striking out a career high 12. Wilson Contreras took him deep for the only Chicago run while Rowdy Tellez delivered and RBI double, Taylor homered again and Victor Caratini gave Milwaukee some insurance with a solo shot against his old team.
Ashby left after loading the bases in the 7th with nobody out. Brad Boxberger game on to record a strikeout and then got a 5-2-3 double play to escape the jam. Another double play was turned in the 8th by the defense along with Taylor making a terrific catch crashing into the right field foul line wall. Manager Craig Counsell turned to Hader again in the ninth and he saved both ends of the sweep, now 18 for 18 on the year.
The Brewers improved to 32-18, their best record 50 games into a season in franchise history and their lead over the St. Louis Cardinals stands at 4 after St. Louis defeated San Diego 6-3. Milwaukee will send Eric Lauer to the hill against Justin Steele in game three of the series Tuesday night. Pre-game coverage begins at 6:30 PM with a 7:05 PM first pitch on WTAQ.
Comments