The Chicago Cubs home opener did not go to plan as the Cubs drop the game 7-4 to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs would have won the game in the 9th inning if it wasn’t because of Wrigley being Wrigley. For most of the game, the wind was blowing out besides the last few innings. Starlin Castro came up to the plate with bases loaded and 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th. Castro hit the ball with authority, but since the wind was blowing in a little, the ball landed on the warning track in the right fielders glove. If the wind was blowing like it did for most of the game, the home opener would have been a success. As Castro would have hit a game-winning grand slam and the Cubs would have won 8-7. Since the Cubs wre unlucky, the Cubs open Wrigley on a losing note. The Cubs record stands at 2-5.
Winning pitcher: Marco Estrada (1-0)
Losing pitcher: Edwin Jackson (0-2)
Save: Jim Henderson (1)
Scoring plays:
Brewers 1st inning: Alex Gonzalez walks and Ryan Braun scores – Cubs 0, Brewers 1.
Brewers 1st inning: Martin Maldonado hits a 3-run double, driving home Rickie Weeks, Jonathan Lucroy and Alex Gonzalez – Cubs 0, Brewers 4.
Brewers 2nd inning: Ryan Braun hits an rbi-double, driving home Norichika Aoki – Cubs 0, Brewers 5.
Cubs 2nd inning: Welington Castillo hits a 2-run home run, driving home Alfonso Soriano – Cubs 2, Brewers 5.
Brewers 7th inning: Yuniesky Betancourt hits a sacrifice fly to LF, Jonathan Lucroy scores – Cubs 2, Brewers 6.
Brewers 7th inning: Marco Estrada hits an rbi-double, driving home Martin Maldonado – Cubs 2, Brewers 7.
Cubs 9th inning: Nate Schierholtz hits an rbi-single, driving home Alfonso Soriano – Cubs 3, Brewers 7.
Cubs 9th inning: Luis Valbuena hits an rbi-single, driving home Nate Schierholtz – Cubs 4, Brewers 7.
Final Score: Cubs 4, Brewers 7.
The good: There wasn’t much good on the Cubs side, but Starlin Castro seems to be coming around. We all knew he wasn’t going to slump all seasn and he might be getting out of his slump. Castro had 2 hits on Sunday and 2 more yesterday. Don’t forget about the almost came-winning grand slam I mentioned above.
The bad: Edwin Jackson was not his self during the game. He struggled right out of the gate giving up 4 runs in the 1st inning. However, he did pitch a lot better after the 1st 2 innings. All the runs he gave up were in the 1st and 2nd inning. His line for the game was 6 innings, 8 hits, 5 runs, 2 walks and struck out 2.
The ugly: This is pretty easy to pick and the ugly winner is … Brett Lillibridge. Lillibridge has started 5 games this season and still does not have a hit on the season. Lillibridge is 0-14 with 5 strikeouts. Besides force outs, Lillibridge has not been on base to help the team as he has not walk either. When Darwin Barney comes back, I would thing hard about sending Lillibridge down and keeping Alberto Gonzalez. I doubt that happens, but I would contemplate the decision.
Today the Cubs will take on the Brewers in the 2nd game of the series. Travis Wood is on the bump for the Cubs and Wily Peralta will go for the Brewers. You can see the game on WGN and can hear the game on WGN 720.
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