Cubs lose 4-3 to Brewers in 10 innings; Minnesota is last stop on road trip

The Cubs lost 4-3 to the Milwaukee Brewers today in a game that went into an extra inning.  Matt Garza started for the Cubs and gave up three hits over six innings and struck out six.  He faced the minimum amount of batters through the first three innings and struck out four of the first nine batters.


Speaking of today's tough loss, Garza said, “You just keep going.  There is another one tomorrow we have got to get ready for, we have to stay ready, and we knew coming in (the 2012 season) was going to be tough.  I threw the ball well.  I would have liked to stay in longer and give up less runs, but I am just going to keep going out there and get ready for Detroit.”

Garza did hit his first career double in the third inning, which was a pleasant surprise. 

Another highlight of the game was when Bryan LaHair gave the Cubs the lead with a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the eighth inning.  But then Norichika Aoki singled off James Russell, who was then pulled for Manuel Corpas. Two outs later, Aoki scored when Corey Hart doubled to tie up the game.

Bryan LaHair came through for the Cubs when he hit a 2-run pinch-hit homer to give the Cubs a 3-2 lead over the Brewers in the 8th inning (photo from cubs.com)

Aoki homered twice for the Brewers, including the walk-off home run in the 10th inning off Cubs reliever Casey Coleman.

Casey Coleman sits in the dugout after serving up the walk-off homer to Norichika Aoki in the 10th inning (US Presswire photo)

The Cubs will travel to Minnesota to play a three-game series against the Twins, starting tomorrow night at 7:10 CT.  Travis Wood will start for the Cubs and try for his first win of the season.

Cubs didn't save any runs for tonight as they lose 8-0 to the Brewers; 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft wraps up

The Cubs lost 8-0 to the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park tonight.  Paul Maholm started for the Cubs and only lasted four innings and allowed four runs on six hits.  He struck out three and walked one batter.

Paul Maholm only lasted four innings against the Brewers in Milwaukee (photo from cubs.com)

The Cubs beat the Brewers 10-0 yesterday, but the Brewers beat the Cubs 8-0 today.  Well, at least we scored two more runs yesterday than the Brew Crew did today.

In other Cubs news, the Cubs placed right-handed relief pitcher Blake Parker on the 60-day DL with a right elbow stress reaction.  In a corresponding move, the Cubs selected the contract of right handed relief pitcher Manuel Corpas from Triple-A Iowa.

The 2012 First-Year Player Draft wrapped up today and the Cubs selected some more talent today, including:

Left-handed pitcher Nathan Dorris, SIU Carbondale

Catcher Blake Hickman, Simeon Career Academy in Chicago.

Third baseman Rustin Sveum, son of Cubs manager Dale Sveum, in the 39th round, Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Cubs GM Jed Hoyer feels confident about this year's draft and said, “It went according to plan as far as that we talked about adding pitching depth to the system.  We really pounded away on pitching after we picked (Albert) Almora with the first pick.  I thought we would take a hitter at the top and then a lot of pitching and that is exactly what we did.  Everyone feels they had a good draft, and in five years, we will find out if we are right.”

Even though Albert Almora said on Tuesday that his first priority was to go to college, most believe he was saying that to try to get more money out of the Cubs.  Being the sixth draft pick, the most the Cubs can offer Almora is $3.25 million.

“We got to know Albert really well,” Hoyer said. “We spent a lot of time with him, and we felt really comfortable with the background information we had on him.”
Now that the draft is over, Hoyer and Cubs President Theo Epstein can focus on the current roster and what they can do to improve it.  Cubs starter Ryan Dempster said he would "listen" to the Cubs if they approached him about waiving his 5-and-10 rights, he hasn't spoken with anyone about leaving.

Hoyer expects the Cubs to be very active before the July 31^st trade deadline.  “I think we will,” he said.  “We’ve already started talking to teams.  Teams work on duel tracks this time of year.  But even the last couple days, those calls will pick up.  It’s such a jumbled race right now.  If you look at it, it’s hard to even talk about a wild card right now because in both leagues three’s a mass of teams hovering.  That’ll shake out a little bit over the next 6-8 weeks, and as it does, teams will be more active.  We’ll be on the phones….That’s what the focus is going to be now.”

Tomorrow the Cubs and Brewers will play the final game of the three-game series at 1:10pm CT.  Matt Garza will make the start for the Cubs and try for his third win of the season.  Let's hope we can at least win the series!