Brewers have shown a knack for adapting to situations and rising to meet challenges

CHICAGO – One of the reasons the Milwaukee Brewers are off to such a surprising start is their ability to adapt to different situations without missing a beat.

They did it again Friday on a miserable day for baseball, overcoming cold, wind, rain and a two-hour delay in the middle of the game to overcome the Chicago Cubs, 6-3, at Wrigley Field.

But it was more than overcoming the elements for a rebuilding team that sits atop the National League Central with a 25-18 record. The Brewers chose to move struggling starter Wily Peralta to the bullpen and give journeyman Paolo Espino a start after 10-plus years in the minors.

It wasn’t a breeze for Espino, who battled through four innings, allowing five hits and three runs (two earned). But, unlike his counterpart, Eddie Butler, as well as subsequent Chicago pitchers, Espino didn’t walk the ballpark. In fact, he issued no free passes en route to a team total of one, compared to 10 for the Cubs’ staff.

It was a big day for Espino, who likely will be returned to the minors with Junior Guerra coming off the disabled list next week. His father, Alex, took a five-hour flight from his native Panama to watch his son finally live his dream, getting a warmer jacket from the club so he wouldn’t freeze in place in the stands.

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BOX SCORE: Brewers 6, Cubs 3

MLB: Live scoreboard, box scores, standings, schedules

POLL: Where would you prefer Wily Peralta pitch?

“He has been following me since I was in Little League, supporting me,” Espino said. “I’m excited he was able to make it. It was great. I saw he was in the stands. I’m sure he was as excited as I was.”

Espino's wife, Leslie, and 5-month-old daughter, Alana, had their flight delayed by weather issues back in Colorado Springs and arrived late to Wrigley but just in time to watch the 30-year-old right-hander pitch his last inning.

Espino first played at the Class AAA level in 2010. That's how long he has been one call away from the majors, a call that didn't come until this week.

"I was persistent, I guess," he said. "I never gave up. I had a lot of support from my family and friends. It's awesome. That's the key, all these people supporting and helping me in my career. That helped me keep pushing and trying. Finally, the moment came. I will never forget it."

After the long delay, Oliver Drake did his thing with a scoreless inning and Peralta came on for his first relief appearance since his big-league debut in 2012. All Peralta did was record five strikeouts in two innings, whiffing the dangerous trio of Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Ian Happ in the eighth.

Maybe this was what Peralta was meant to do. He has been so inconsistent as a starter, but used in short bursts, he can fire away with his power stuff and not worry about facing hitters a second or third time.

“It felt a little weird,” Peralta said. “That was the first time I’ve run down the bullpen straight to the mound. It felt a little different but it’s a normal game. You have to go out there and keep making pitches.

“You can let it go right away. You’re not going to throw that many pitches. I don’t have to save anything.”

Peralta wasn’t aware the official scorer awarded him the victory for being the most effective reliever in a game in which the starter didn’t qualify by going five innings. If it was the start of a new career, so be it, he said.

“It’s probably a new role,” he said. “For now, I’m in the bullpen. I don’t think about coming back to the rotation later in the season. Now, my mind is on the bullpen and I have to do whatever it takes down there.”

There was one last adjustment to make to secure the victory. Corey Knebel, who had pitched four of the previous five days, including a 27-pitch save Thursday in San Diego, had the day off, so manager Craig Counsell summoned veteran Carlos Torres to close out the Cubs.

And so it went. The Cubs let the weather get to them but the Brewers persevered. When play resumed in the top of the sixth with runners on second and third, Domingo Santana cut the heart out of the home team with a two-run single that made it a 6-3 game. Chicago went quietly after that, failing to move a runner past first base.

“Any time you score on the Cubs, it’s a big deal,” Santana said. “We needed it.

“We’re going out there and just trusting in our team. We’re competing until the last out.”

It was actually a day better suited for ducks, and Santana had a couple camping out near him in right field for a bit.

“That was pretty interesting,” he said. “The fans shouted at me to not step on the ducks. I was just mocking the fans. So, it was really fun.”

Winning is always fun, especially when you find as many ways to do it as the Brewers have.