The Chicago Cubs currently hold a 29-19 record and maintain a slim half-game lead in the NL Central. In the past 24 hours, the club’s historic 15-game home winning streak at Wrigley Field ended. The Milwaukee Brewers defeated them 9-3.
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MLB Game Recap
The Brewers dismantled the Cubs with a 13-hit attack. A four-run fourth inning highlighted their performance. A three-run fifth put the game out of reach early. Starting pitcher Shota Imanaga suffered his worst outing of the year, posting a line of 4.1 IP, 9 H, 8 ER, 3 BB, and 2 K on 79 pitches before being replaced in the fifth. Dansby Swanson provided a spark with a 430-foot two-run home run. The Cubs’ bullpen faced heavy usage. Ethan Roberts threw 28 pitches over 1.2 innings. Ty Blach tossed 3.0 innings of one-hit relief to finish the game.
Standout Performer
Michael Busch consistently played well in the lineup. He finished 2-for-2 with two doubles and one RBI. He also had one walk and a hit-by-pitch to reach base in every plate appearance. His run-scoring double in the fifth inning briefly reduced the lead. His disciplined approach also raised his season OBP to .367. Busch’s ability to drive the ball to center field stood out. It was a rare highlight on a night where the team went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
Key News & Notes
The Cubs have hit a mid-May skid, losing seven of their last nine games despite their strong overall record. Shota Imanaga allowed eight earned runs on Monday. This matched his total allowed over his previous five starts combined. It signaled a rare lapse in command for the left-hander. On the defensive side, Ian Happ recorded an outfield assist by throwing out Luis Rengifo at second base. The infield then turned a sharp Swanson-Hoerner-Busch double play.
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Farm Report
- AAA Iowa Cubs: The Cubs host the Redbirds tonight with right-hander Conner Noland (2-3, 6.63 ERA, 22 K) scheduled to start as Iowa (18-26) looks to climb out of the division basement.
- AA Tennessee Smokies: The Smokies (21-18) are hosting the Montgomery Biscuits at Covenant Health Park. It’s a battle of two winning records.
- A+ South Bend Cubs: Nazier Mulé (0-1, 3.24 ERA, 10 K) takes the mound in Michigan against the West Michigan Whitecaps.
- A Myrtle Beach Pelicans: The Pelicans (18-19) travel to face the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. They look to reach the .500 mark.
- ACL Cubs: Joan Delgado went 1-4 with a home run. The ACL Cubs lost 5-3 to the ACL Giants on Monday night.
Looking Ahead
The Cubs look to even the series tonight at Wrigley Field with Ben Brown (1-1, 1.60 ERA) facing Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski (3-2, 2.12 ERA).
Losing a 15-game home streak is a tough pill to swallow, but a win tonight keeps the division lead secure. What do you think?
