April 16, 2024

Cubs deck Brewers in doubleheader

By ​By MIKE CRANSTON Associated Press

AP Photo Chicago Cubs’ Chris Coghlan, left, scores on a sacrifice bunt hit by Trevor Cahill as Milwaukee Brewers catcher Manny Pina, right, applies a late tag during the fourth inning Tuesday’s first game of a doubleheader at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Cubs beat the Brewers, 4-0, in the first game.

CHICAGO (AP) — Jason Hammel threw seven innings of two-hit ball, Anthony Rizzo jumped onto a wall to make a remarkable catch of a foul ball, and the Chicago Cubs beat the banged-up Milwaukee Brewers 4-1 on Tuesday night to sweep a day-night doubleheader.

Javier Baez hit a two-run homer while Hammel (13-5) struck out seven to extend his scoreless streak to 22 innings.

Rizzo wowed the fans when the first baseman jumped on the wall with both feet, leaned into the crowd and made a one-handed grab of Keon Broxton’s popup.

In the opener, Trevor Cahill came off the disabled list to throw five innings of two-hit ball in his first start in nearly 16 months in Chicago’s 4-0 win.

It was a nightmare day for the Brewers, who lost second-game starter Chase Anderson to a bruised left quadriceps after two batters and slugger Ryan Braun to a left knee injury in the fourth inning.

Hernan Perez’s two-out solo homer in the ninth off Travis Wood ended Milwaukee’s 17-inning scoreless streak. After another single, Aroldis Chapman entered and gave up a walk and infield single before striking out Martin Maldonado for his second save of the day and sixth with the Cubs.

David Ross walked and scored on Kris Bryant’s single to left in the third off Jhan Marinez (0-1), who relieved Anderson.

Hammel had two hits and the Cubs took control on Baez’s two-run shot to left-center in Chicago’s three-run sixth off lefty Rob Scahill to secure its 13th win in 15 games.

In the opener, Chapman got two outs to complete the three-hitter.

The Brewers mustered six hits in 18 innings and were left with seven losses in 10 games amid plenty of bad news.

Anderson, who took a no-hitter into the eighth in his last start against the Cubs, was struck by Bryant’s comebacker. Anderson fielded and threw to first for the second out, but then limped off.

Braun limped off in the fourth after he crumpled into the side wall trying to catch a fly ball down the left field line.

Rizzo’s grab earned him “MVP” chants from the crowd in the fifth.

Mike Montgomery followed Cahill in the first game and pitched two innings, Hector Rondon worked the eighth and Joe Smith walked two in the ninth before Chapman hit 103 mph and struck out one.

Cahill (2-3) also drove in a run with a safety squeeze, and the Cubs added runs on a wild pitch and Addison Russell’s sacrifice fly off Matt Garza (4-5).

With right-hander John Lackey’s right shoulder still sore after he left Sunday’s start, Cahill provides an option if the Cubs need a replacement.

“He gave us something to talk about,” manager Joe Maddon said.

Cahill bunted a 3-2 pitch in the fourth, and first baseman Chris Carter’s flip home wasn’t in time to get Chris Coghlan.

Garza allowed five hits and threw 103 pitches in five innings. Tyler Cravy, Milwaukee’s 26th player, threw two scoreless innings.

“They did a good job of grinding out at-bats,” Garza said. “They fouled off a lot pitches. Granted, I didn’t have the best command.”