Brewers fall 9-6 to surging Cubs in series finale
CHICAGO -- The Milwaukee Brewers were patient at the plate, and that's something they want to improve. Yet despite drawing a career-high seven walks from Jake Arrieta, they weren't able to overcome a big day by Kris Bryant.
Bryant homered twice, doubled and drove in five runs while going 5 for 5, and the Chicago Cubs overcame Arrieta's wildness to beat the Brewers 9-6 Thursday for a four-game sweep.
Milwaukee coaxed 10 walks, which kept it in the game against the Cubs' ace and three relievers. The ninth spot in the order received four of the free passes.
"Other guys started to understand it and bought into it and grinded out at-bats," said manager Craig Counsell, whose team ranked seventh in on-base percentage (.326) at the start of the day. "We've done a good job. We're getting into three-ball counts, 3-2 counts. We're making (pitchers) work. It's a good start and a good step that our offense has taken."
Bryant tied Colorado's Nolan Arenado for the NL lead with 30 home runs. The Cubs won for the 18th time in 21 games and improved the best record in the majors to 77-43.
Chicago led 5-0 when Arrieta (15-5) issued a pair of two-out walks in the fourth. Kirk Nieuwenhuis followed with a three-run homer.
Hernan Perez hit a solo homer in the sixth off Arrieta, who allowed four runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings.
"We did a good job against Arrieta," Counsell said. "It's not a day that we got a lot of hits, but the walks made a difference against him. We just couldn't slow down the top of their lineup. Obviously, Bryant had a great day."
Aroldis Chapman worked the ninth for his seventh save.
Bryant singled and scored in the first, hit a two-run homer in the third and had an RBI double in the fourth off Zach Davies (9-6). Bryant hit a solo homer off Blaine Boyer in the sixth and added an RBI single in the eighth off Corey Knebel for his second career five-hit game.
"I don't feel like this too often, but this was just one of those days when I was really locked in," Bryant said.
Bryant, who hit 26 homers while winning the NL Rookie of the Year in 2015, had his third multihomer game of the season. He has 78 RBIs.
"(Bryant's) one of the best hitters in the game," Davies said. "He can hit any pitch, any mistake. You've got to be extremely focused on every pitch when he does to bat."
Anthony Rizzo doubled twice off Davies, who allowed a season-high seven earned runs and 10 hits in four innings.
The Brewers got left fielder Ryan Braun back after he banged up his left knee and ankle chasing a foul ball Tuesday. But Braun went 0 for 5 and couldn't come up with Addison Russell's fly that drifted to the wall and was ruled a single in Chicago's three-run third.
Milwaukee was outscored 23-8 in the series and fell to 0-6 at Wrigley Field.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Brewers: RHP Chase Anderson (quadriceps) was scheduled to play catch, two days after leaving in the first inning when he was hit by a line drive. "If he's healthy, we'll be able to use Chase out of the bullpen for a couple days this weekend and he'll start at some point next week," Counsell said.... RHP Junior Guerra (tendinitis) will take part in a bullpen session before the game in Seattle on Friday night.
Cubs: Manager Joe Maddon said they'll decide in the next couple of days if RHP John Lackey (shoulder) will make his next scheduled start Tuesday.
CONTRERAS MOVES UP
Willson Contreras caught Arrieta for the first time. The 24-year-old rookie has moved ahead of struggling veteran Miguel Montero.
Contreras hit an RBI double in the third and picked off Ramon Flores at first in the fifth. He also had two passed balls.
CUBS TORMENTER
Of Nieuwenhuis' 11 homers, five have come against the Cubs. The center fielder also doubled and scored in the eighth.
UP NEXT
Brewers: Brewers: LHP Brent Suter will be recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs and make his major league debut Friday night at Seattle against LHP Wade LeBlanc (2-0, 4.68 ERA). "He has earned the shot to do it," Counsell said. In 26 games (15 starts) at Triple-A, he is 6-6 with a 3.50 ERA. He is scheduled to oppose LHP Wade LeBlanc (2-0, 4.68 ERA).
Cubs: RHP Kyle Hendricks (11-7, 2.19) starts Friday night at Colorado to begin a nine-game trip against the Rockies and LHP Tyler Anderson (4-4, 3.42). Chicago plays 18 of its next 25 on the road.
