Brewers 2, Cubs 0: Ryan Braun's homer is the offense, but Jimmy Nelson leaves game

Todd Rosiak
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Ryan Braun celebrates with Hernan Perez after hitting a two-run homer against Cubs starter John Lackey during the first inning at Wrigley Field on Friday night.

CHICAGO - The Milwaukee Brewers shut out the Chicago Cubs, 2-0, in the first-ever Friday night game played during the regular season at Wrigley Field.

But the victory came at a potentially high cost.

Starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson was forced out after five innings and 79 pitches with a jammed right shoulder he suffered on a head-first dive into first base. It's an injury that could have serious ramifications for a team pushing for the postseason if he winds up missing any starts because of it.

Ryan Braun's two-run home run in the first inning stood up the rest of the way for the Brewers, who got terrific relief behind Nelson from Josh Hader, Anthony Swarzak and Corey Knebel in trimming a full game off what had been a five-game Cubs lead in the Central Division race.

"Look, it’s a big game," said manager Craig Counsell, whose team matched its 2016 victory total with No. 73. "We’re chasing. These are big games and we needed this one, for sure.

"After a rough (series) in Cincinnati, this is the way we wanted to start it."

BOX SCORE: Brewers 2, Cubs 0

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The Brewers, who came in having scored seven of their eight runs via the long ball in that three-game sweep in Cincinnati, got all the offense they'd need against John Lackey and the Cubs on – what else? – Braun's homer to straightaway center three batters in and with Eric Thames on base.

It was the 15th of the season and 300th of Braun's career, making him the 12th active player in the major leagues to reach the mark.

"it’s a really cool number, no question about it," he said. "Just the longevity and consistency it takes to get there is something I’m proud of. But obviously with where we’re at in the season, we’re focused on much bigger and more important things.

"It’s obviously more enjoyable when it comes in a win, comes in a big moment, comes on a night where the ball wasn’t traveling very well. Definitely, a cool way to get it."

Added Counsell: "I told him, ‘Hey, that’s not just another homer. That’s a huge homer for us. A big one.’ It’s a good spot to get it there, and 300’s a big number."

There wasn't much else to speak of after that against Lackey for Milwaukee's offense, which had scored 48.7% of its runs with homers coming in – second only to the Texas Rangers (49.1%).

Keon Broxton managed a bloop single in the second, Braun was plunked by Lackey in the third and Nelson singled hard off the wall in left in the fifth as the Brewers once again failed to apply any sort of consistent pressure on the opposing pitcher with their bats.

It was that single that led to Nelson's exit, and the anxious moments to come over the next day or so.

Nelson sent a rocket off the wall in left that left the big right-hander thinking two, only to quickly shift gears and retreat to first base after a big turn. Nelson ultimately dove back into the bag head-first, making it in safe but ultimately coming up slowly and gingerly from the dirt.

Having allowed four hits to that point, Nelson stayed in and took the mound for the bottom half of the fifth. He recorded the first two outs before hitting Jon Jay, who ultimately made his way to third, and walking Kris Bryant to bring Anthony Rizzo to the plate.

Rizzo hit a moon shot to center, but fortunately for Nelson and the Brewers the winds had shifted significantly since Braun's first-inning homer. Broxton stayed with it and hauled it in near the warning track to keep the shutout alive.

Nelson (12-6) allowed four hits and two walks while striking out seven, leaving him with 199 for the season.

"He wasn’t really in pain, but he just said it felt funny so we took him out," said Counsell. "The doctors checked it out. We’re going to get some precautionary tests tomorrow. I don’t think it’s a major deal, but we’ll just hope for the best.

"We’re optimistic, but we’ve got to get some tests and make sure."

Brewers pitcher Jimmy Nelson gets hurt sliding back into first base Sept. 8 against the Cubs.

Nelson, who came into the night having not pitched since Sept. 1, had been pushed back for the opener of this series as the Brewers lined up their three best starters in him, Chase Anderson and Zach Davies.

"I slid back, jammed my shoulder up," he said. "It was kind of sore out there, then it was sore in the bottom of the fifth when I threw. I got in between innings after the fifth and it just felt a little weird, so they took me out for precautionary reasons.

"We’ll know more tomorrow for sure with the tests. They put me through all the tests up here, and hopefully there’s nothing structural. They don’t think it is."

Hader pitched two perfect innings in relief of Nelson before walking the leadoff man Jay to open the Cubs' eighth. Swarzak picked up the left-hander by retiring Bryant, Rizzo and Ben Zobrist, then Knebel locked down Milwaukee's 10th shutout of the season with a scoreless ninth for his 33rd save.

"Josh was the key to the game, for sure," said Counsell. "Two big innings. He faced seven hitters and did an outstanding job. Two 1-2-3 innings and bridged it to Swarzak."

Now the Brewers will try to build off Friday while at the same time holding their collective breath that Nelson isn't seriously hurt and won't miss any time.

"I think we’re realistic about how many games we have left," said Braun. "And when you’re playing the team that’s directly ahead of you in your division, it’s that much more important and significant to find a way to win the series. We got off to a good start today and hopefully we can come out tomorrow and play another good game.

"For us, it always starts with starting pitching. Jimmy Nelson has been so great for us and we have our two next-best pitchers going the next two days so hopefully they can continue the momentum that he started tonight.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE

• Aaron Wilkerson, promoted from Class AA Biloxi to Class AAA Colorado Springs for the playoffs, made his first start for the Sky Sox this season a memorable one.

The right-hander threw seven no-hit innings and tied a season high with 11 strikeouts to lead Colorado Springs past Memphis, 5-0, on Thursday.

Then on Friday, the Sky Sox won a wild 16-15 affair to grab a 2-1 lead in the series. Eight different pitchers took the mound for Springs, which allowed eight runs in the eighth and ninth innings only to hold on.

Chris Colabello had four hits and five RBI and Nate Orf homered to lead the offense.

• Right-hander Aaron Brooks, who was designated for assignment on Tuesday when the Brewers recalled outfielder Quentin Berry, was outrighted to Class AAA Colorado Springs.

STAT SHEET

• Nelson is seeking the 10th 200-strikeout season in franchise history, a feat accomplished by five pitchers including Yovani Gallardo most recently in 2012 (204). The club record is 264, set by Ben Sheets in 2004.

• The shutout of the Cubs was the Brewers' first since June 1, 2014 and the first at Wrigley Field since July 29, 2013.

TAKEAWAY

It was a great way to start a huge series for the Brewers, but Nelson's injury dampened the enthusiasm. Losing him at this point of the season would be a crushing blow to their playoff hopes.

The bullpen delivered in a big way in the wake of Nelson's injury. Hader threw a terrific two innings, then Swarzak and Knebel mowed through the eighth and the ninth – a perfect scenario for Counsell.

On the downside, the offense showed few signs of awakening from the slumber that befell it in Cincinnati. The Brewers were fortunate Braun's blast came early when the winds were kind and ultimately held up, because you aren't going to win many games this time of year by totaling just four hits.

RECORD

This year: 73-68 (39-32 home; 34-36 away)

Last year: 63-78

NEXT GAME

Saturday: Brewers at Cubs, 3:05 p.m. Milwaukee RHP Chase Anderson (8-3, 3.06) vs. Chicago LHP Mike Montgomery (5-7, 3.38). TV: FS Wisconsin. Radio: AM-620.