Cubs lose back-to-back series to the Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates

From April 7 through April 11, the Chicago Cubs lost back-to-back series to both the Milwaukee Brewers and the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs are now 4-5 on the season.

Cubs versus Brewers:

In the series finale, the Brewers defeated the Cubs 4-2 at Wrigley to earn a 2-1 series win on Wednesday, April 7. After being no-hit over seven innings by pitcher Brandon Woodruff, the Chicago Cubs dropped their third game of the season.

Woodruff dominated the Cubs lineup from top to bottom on Wednesday April 7, tossing 7 scoreless innings, 1 hit, no walks, and 8 strikeouts in the victory. The right-hander finished with 74 pitches and 51 strikes on the day.

“Day game after a night game is always tough from a catching standpoint,” said David Ross pregame via NBC sports Chicago. “I’m really going to try and monitor his innings as much as I can and protect him and his body as best I can.”

The Cubs offense could have really used Wilson Contreras’ bat on Wednesday afternoon after going scoreless for 17 consecutive innings in the last two games. The team’s scoreless streak would come to an end on a Joc Pederson solo shot to right field. The home run by Pederson was his first of the season, tying the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The home run by Pederson traveled 417 feet.

Pederson’s home run came two innings later following a late exit by Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks.

Hendricks left the game after going 6 innings, giving up 0 runs, surrendering one walk, 4 hits and 6 strikeouts in the loss. In spite of a lack of run support, Hendricks pitched a great game.

Hendricks’ superb pitching performance was erased after the Cubs bullpen surrendered two home runs to Brewers center fielder Lorenzo Cain. Cain hit his first homer in the top of the eighth inning and his second in the top of the 10th inning to close out the game.

The 10th inning home run by Cain was surrendered by Cubs relief pitcher Brandon Workman, who allowed a 3-run shot to straight away center field.

The multi-homer game by Cain was the sixth of his major league career.

Final Score: Brewers 4, Cubs 2.

With the loss, the Cubs fell to 3-3 on the season.

Pirates versus Cubs

Following a 2-1 series loss to the Brewers, the Chicago Cubs suffered a 7-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday April 11, on the road.

The loss to the Pirates on Sunday propelled Pittsburgh to a 2-1 series win and handed the Cubs their fifth loss of the season. The Cubs hitters were silenced throughout the day and held to only one run and five hits over nine innings of play.

Pitcher JT Brubaker pitched a gem for the Pirates in the series finale going 5 1/3 innings, one walk, and four strikeouts in the victory.

The lone bright spot for the Cubs offense was a solo home run by shortstop Javier Baez in the top of the second inning. The home run by Baez gave the Cubs an early 1-0 lead.

Following the home run by Baez, the Pirates offense exploded for seven unanswered runs.

Final Score: Pirates 7, Cubs 1.

Chicago Crusader Players of the Game:

Cubs versus Brewers Series:

Brandon Woodruff, Brewers, tossed 7 scoreless innings, 1 hit, no walks, and 8 strikeouts in the victory. The right-hander finished with 74 pitches and 51 strikes on the day.

Kyle Hendricks, Cubs, pitched 6 innings, surrendered 0 runs, one walk, 4 hits and 6 strikeouts in the loss.

Cubs versus Pirates series:

JT Brubaker, Pirates, pitched 5 1/3 innings, one walk, and four strikeouts in the victory.

Javier Baez, Cubs, hit a solo home run in the top of the second inning.

Joseph
Joseph G. Phillips

 

Joseph Phillips is the Sports Editor for the Chicago Crusader Newspaper. He is a Chicago native, who has been a sports writer for over 17 years. He also hosts the SC Media News and Sports Network Q&A radio show on WHPK 88.5 FM Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected].

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Sports Editor at Chicago Crusader Newspaper | + posts

Joseph Phillips is the Sports Editor for the Chicago Crusader Newspaper. He is a Chicago native, who has been a sports writer for over 17 years. He also hosts the SC Media News and Sports Network Q&A radio show on WHPK 88.5 FM Chicago.

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