The Milwaukee Brewers rode a massive first inning to victory over the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of their National
The Milwaukee Brewers rode a massive first inning to victory over the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of their National League Division Series, batting around the order on the way to a 6-1 lead — and an eventual 9-3 victory.
Although they faced an early deficit due to a leadoff home run from Cubs’ first baseman Michael Busch, the Brewers didn’t blink, doubling on three consecutive pitches to open a 2-1 lead and eventually chase Chicago starter Matthew Boyd from the game.
Here are the winners and losers as the Brew Crew began their postseason run with a bang.
Winner: Jackson Chourio
With the Brewers trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning, Milwaukee leadoff hitter Jackson Chourio wasted no time getting the home crowd engaged, roping a curveball to left for a leadoff double. The Brewers went on to score six runs in the frame, face three Cubs pitchers and send 11 batters in all to the plate.
Chourio came up to bat later in the inning with the bases loaded and contributed a single this time, keeping the line moving with two runs batted in, then reached on an infield single in the second that tacked on another run and made him the first player in big league history to record three hits in the first two innings of a playoff game.
Sprinting down the line on his single caused Chourio to aggravate a hamstring injury and leave the game, but not before he’d given his team a commanding lead to begin their playoff run.
Winner: Aaron Civale
Even with the lopsided result, Cubs’ starter-turned-reliever Aaron Civale earns credit for keeping Chicago’s bullpen fresh, eating up 4.1 innings on an economical 55 pitches after Matthew Boyd and Michael Soroka blew up early. Every win is crucial in a best-of-five series and Civale did his best to keep Chicago in the game, recording the final out of the second inning after Soroka ran into more trouble.
With three strikeouts, three hits and no earned runs allowed, Civale was ready to perform when the Cubs called his number. Manager Craig Counsell only had to use one pitcher the rest of the way, and it’s the unsung performances like that which could help swing the series back in Chicago’s favor.
Loser: Mike Soroka
Cubs’ starter-turned-reliever Michael Soroka wasn’t able to stop the bleeding when manager Craig Counsell phoned for him out of the bullpen on Saturday afternoon.
Entering after Blake Perkins grinded out an 11-pitch at-bat against Boyd on the way to a two-run single, Soroka walked Milwaukee’s No. 9 hitter and allowed another RBI single before escaping the frame. Even with a chance to settle down between innings, Soroka continued to struggle in the second, allowing three consecutive singles that turned into three earned runs.
Soroka mercifully got the hook after issuing a four pitch walk, unable to eat up outs and preserve his bullpen.
Loser: Seiya Suzuki
After putting up one of the best performances at the plate of any member of the Cubs during the Wild Card Series, going 3-for-11 with two doubles and a home run, Seiya Suzuki was nowhere to be found during Chicago’s Game 1 loss.
The power-hitting right fielder went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts looking, including with two on and two outs in the third inning, an at-bat that could’ve changed the game had he managed a timely hit. As the Cubs’ cleanup hitter, Suzuki cant go down looking with his bat on his shoulder.
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