Despite the fact that the Milwaukee Brewers remain at the top of the NL Central, they are being picked by many experts to fall from that spot as many believe there has been plenty of luck in their magnificent start of the season.
If their series against the Chicago Cubs is of any indication, then Milwaukee is clearly trending in the wrong direction. After a shutout loss yesterday, both teams faced each other in a rubber match that would decide the series winner and Chicago came through, riding a spectacular performance from Travis Wood on their way to a 4-2 win.
The Cubs scored four answered runs to give Wood a strong cushion. Welington Castillo kicked things off with a two-run HR in the second inning, Luis Valbuena added an RBI single and Mike Olt notched the fourth run with another solo bomb in the fourth. It was Olt’s ninth HR and 20th RBI of the year and the former Texas Rangers prospect leads the team in both categories.
The Brewers answered back with a two-run HR from Rickie Weeks in the second inning, but that would be all the offense they would muster today. Part of that was the Cubs’ defense but Travis Wood also deserves part of the credit. The lefty pitched seven strong innings and allowed only two runs and two hits, walking three and striking out seven.
Brian Schlitter and Hector Rondon each pitched a perfect inning to close the game. Between the two, they struck out four of the six batters they faced and Rondon picked up his fifth SV of the year.
The Brewers could be trending in the wrong direction but the Cubs have been making positive strides in recent weeks. Their record might not suggest it, but their play has been vastly improved as of late.