Cubs Struggle as Brewers Take Control in NL Central Standings
Less than two weeks ago, the Chicago Cubs were enjoying their second 10-game winning streak of the season. But fortunes changed quickly. After Tuesday’s 5-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, the Cubs no longer lead the National League Central standings. The Cubs have now lost four consecutive games, with only two wins in their last ten attempts. They face the possibility of being swept by the Brewers on Wednesday at Wrigley Field.
“Every year has periods like that,” said Ian Happ after failing to get a hit in three at-bats, drawing one walk. “If our record had been the same, but we won every series, it would feel different. There are pros and cons to winning 10 straight twice, but if you look at the whole picture, we’re over .500 and in a good position.” Happ added that most would have agreed to their current standing if offered at the season’s start.
In Tuesday’s game, Cubs starter Ben Brown faced the Brewers at Wrigley Field. His performance was a bright spot in an otherwise frustrating game, where the Cubs’ offense fell short in key situations. Opposing pitcher Jacob Misiorowski limited the Cubs, allowing only three hits and one walk while striking out eight in six innings. Misiorowski’s dominance started early, especially after Nico Hoerner’s walk and Michael Busch reaching on an error in the first inning. Despite this early pressure, Misiorowski struck out key batters, preventing the Cubs from taking an early lead.
“We had good swings and barely missed,” manager Craig Counsell noted. Misiorowski’s pitching arsenal, full of strikes, put the Cubs in a difficult position, highlighting the need to quickly get decisive hits rather than relying on drawn-out counts.
Ben Brown showed valuable growth in his pitching despite challenging conditions. In the fourth inning, two failed plays put him in a precarious situation, but he held his composure, striking out two Brewers and forcing a ground out to end the inning. This resilience marked a change from earlier performances where Brown occasionally struggled after setbacks.
Counsell expressed satisfaction with Brown’s progress, emphasizing the significance of his ability to pitch through adversity. The manager noted Brown’s knack for key strikeouts, helping the Cubs stay competitive. Brown pitched five innings, allowing three runs, maintaining a season ERA of 2.09, and offering the Cubs a chance to close in on the Brewers’ lead later in the game.
Reflecting on his performance, Brown felt he managed to limit damage well but acknowledged areas for improvement. Misiorowski’s pitching, with fastballs reaching 101.5 mph, was difficult to counter, limiting the Cubs to only one scoring opportunity during his time on the mound.
Despite Misiorowski’s effective showing, the Cubs had chances to overcome their deficit. In the eighth inning, the Cubs’ offensive efforts, led by Hoerner and Suzuki, turned promising before being cut short by strong Brewers pitching.
Manager Craig Counsell remained optimistic about the season, noting that the Cubs have 115 games remaining. He acknowledged the loss, stating simply, “They beat us the first two games.” The focus now shifts to salvaging the final game of the series against the Brewers.