Brewers 6, Cubs 3: Long rain delay can't slow momentum as Brewers win 10th in 12 games

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

CHICAGO - The Milwaukee Brewers didn't let a little thing like a two-hour rain delay snatch away their momentum.

On a miserable day to play baseball – actually a miserable day for just about anything – the Brewers kept rolling by pulling out a 6-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Friday at Wrigley Field.

It was the fourth consecutive victory for the first-place Brewers and their 10th in 12 games, moving them a season-high seven games over .500 (25-18).

"It wasn't fun," Counsell said of the elements. "(Wind) blowing hard and rain, basically for nine innings. And cold. It was tough. It didn't feel like a baseball game for a couple of innings."

After waiting for more than 10 seasons in the minor leagues to finally get his chance in the majors, Brewers right-hander Paolo Espino was in line for the victory had the game not resumed in the sixth. Espino went only four innings but that would have sufficed in a rain-shortened game.

"It was pure excitement. I've been waiting for this opportunity for so long," said Espino, who allowed five hits and three runs (two earned) with no walks and three strikeouts. "I wasn't feeling any pressure. I was just trying to give the team an opportunity to win. That's the most important thing.

"It was hard – the wind, the cold weather. It was hard to get a good grip on the ball. I felt I was struggling with the command on all of my pitches. This will be something I never will forget. It's my first time up here but I've been around a long time. It was a great experience. I'm just glad the team won the game."

The Brewers began the game by doing what they do best – scoring in the first inning. Cubs starter Eddie Butler was all over the place with his pitches, throwing a staggering 40 pitches before retiring the side.

BOX SCORE: Brewers 6, Cubs 3

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Butler almost got away with issuing three walks, but Jett Bandy finally made him pay by bouncing a two-run single up the middle with two down. In 43 games, the Brewers have scored an amazing 45 first-inning runs, compared to 12 by the opposition.

By that point, Butler was doomed to a short outing. He made it through only three innings, throwing 92 pitches (46 strikes), but managed to stop the Brewers from scoring more runs.

Espino cruised through the first two innings before a two-base error by centerfielder Keon Broxton on a routine fly in the third inning set the stage for an unearned run. Espino then found trouble of his own making in the fourth when the first four hitters singled.

Willson Contreras delivered the fourth hit, a two-run single up the middle that put the Cubs on top. Chicago was in position for a bigger rally but it fizzled after Javier Baez made the poor decision to bunt – and pop out – with two on, no outs and reliever Mike Montgomery the next hitter.

By that point, the weather conditions deteriorated further and Montgomery struggled to throw strikes. With a runner on second and two outs, he walked Bandy and Broxton to load the bases. Orlando Arcia then tapped an infield hit to the right side to send in the tying run.

Montgomery then issued yet another walk to pinch-hitter Jesus Aguilar, forcing in the go-ahead run. Rob Scahill took over and retired the Cubs in order in the bottom of the inning, making it official whether completed or not.

The umpires finally stopped play in the top of the sixth but it took a double error on Cubs leftfielder Kyle Schwarber to prompt that decision. After Eric Thames led off with a single, Jonathan Villar hit a fly to left that the wind carried back toward the infield.

Shortstop Baez gave up on the ball, forcing Schwarber to try to field it. He muffed it for one error, then tried to flip the ball to second to force Thames but did so wildly for another error. The umps finally decided weather was affecting play adversely and stopped the game.

When play resumed, Domingo Santana cashed in both runners with a one-out single up the middle to give the Brewers a 6-3 lead. Wily Peralta, making his first relief appearance since his debut in 2012 after being removed from the starting rotation, helped protect that lead with two scoreless innings, including five strikeouts.

With Corey Knebel unavailable due to recent heavy workload, Carlos Torres then took care of the ninth for his first save of the season.

"It's guys stepping up. That's how you win games," Counsell said. "Today was another example of that. Wily moving into a different role. He was outstanding for a couple of innings. It was fun to see. The dugout was fired up.

"It's not necessarily what you expected but we adapt. The guys are doing whatever it takes in whatever role they are put in."

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE

* Counsell was asked if there was any extra buzz on the flight from San Diego to Chicago after the first-place Brewers took three of four games to go six games over .500.

“Everybody slept,” Counsell replied.

* Thames was back in the starting lineup for the first time since Sunday after battling strep throat. Thames did pinch hit Thursday in the seventh inning.

“He’s passed it,” Counsell said. “The antibiotics knocked that out pretty fast. He’s fine.”

STAT SHEET

* Eric Sogard became the first Brewers player with at least 10 hits in his first 17 at-bats of a season since Robin Yount began the 1986 season going 11 for 17.

* Third baseman Travis Shaw extended his career-high hitting streak to 10 games with a double in the fifth inning.

TAKEAWAY

This game was played in miserable conditions -- rain, wind, cold temperatures, you name it. But it still counted and the Brewers found a way to get it done after the long delay. That's how it has gone for them of late.

RECORD

This year: 25-18 (12-11 home; 13-7 away)

Last year: 18-25

NEXT GAME

Saturday: Brewers at Cubs, 1:20 p.m. Milwaukee RHP Chase Anderson (2-0, 3.43) vs. Chicago RHP Jake Arrieta (4-3, 5.44). TV: FS Wisconsin. Radio: AM-620.