A "sellout crowd" of 10,343 fans at Wrigley Field Monday night. (Eugene McIntosh)
Final Score - Chicago Cubs 5 Milwaukee Brewers 3
Summary - It was a pitchers duel through 3.5 innings as Cubs pitcher Trevor Williams faced the minimum through 4 and Brewers lefty Brett Anderson faced the minimum through 3. After a leadoff walk to Ian Happ (we learned in Little League that leadoff walks always come back to haunt you) #ILLWILL Willson Contreras gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead with a 409 foot rocket to dead center. #ELMAGO Javier Baez and David Bote (yes you have to earn your moniker from The Bigs) wanted in on the action as they slapped back to back jacks to extend to a 4-0 lead. Omar Narvaez had plans to spoil the party as he ended Williams no hit bid in the top of 6 with a single to left field then followed up in the top of 7 with a 3 run home run off of Jason Adam and just like that it was a one run ballgame. Eric Sogard came right back in the bottom of 7 (after taking over the duties at second base from Bote) and drove Jake Marisnick (leadoff walk) in with a triple to the right field corner for some insurance and gave the Cubs a two run cushion. Andrew Chafin struck out the side in the top of 8 and Alec Mills sealed the deal with a 3 up 3 down top of 9 for his first save of the season.
Quote(s) of the game - "It's nice and refreshing to watch the new guys perform. I think the additions we made were a little under the radar and I've got a lot of confidence in those guys the way they work. It's been nice to see them handle that." - Cubs manager David Ross on the acquisition of Jake Arietta/Zach Davies/Trevor Williams "Just a really special moment for my family and I. It's something I'm gonna remember and cherish and something I'm looking forward to for the rest of the season. I'm thankful for every opportunity my family gets to watch me pitch. They're my rock and I really really cherish them." - Trevor Williams on his outing (his dad grew up on 45th & Cicero and graduated from Brother Rice in 1974. Too bad he didn't graduate from the best Chicago Catholic League high school ever...the Mt. Carmel Caravan that is! Proud member of the c/o 94)
The BIGS Play(s) of the game - Trevor Williams induced a 5-4-3 (Duffy-Bote-Riz) double play with the bases juiced to keep the Brew Crew scoreless in the top of 6. Andrew Chafin got pinch hitter Daniel Robertson to chase a 3-2 slider in the dirt to end the top of 7 with Orlando Arcia stranded at first base in a 4-3 ballgame then struck out the side in the top of 8.
The Good - Three consecutive stellar outings by Cubs offseason starting pitching acquisitions. Jake Arietta, Zach Davies and now Trevor Williams. Williams held the Brewers hitless through their first 15 at bats and only gave up two hits while striking out six through six innings on 84 pitches picking up his first win as a Cub.
The Bad - 0-7 from the combination of "Bryzzo" but again...the only thing that matters is a plus one in the W column!
The Huff - Willson Contreras took a 93 mph fastball off the helmet in the bottom of 6 from 2020 NL Rookie of the Year Devin Williams. Contreras said he felt good and didn't feel any concussion symptoms. "I'm not blaming him...I'm not blaming anybody. It's just part of the game. That was not intentional," he said.
Next matchup - Game 2 of the 3 game set tomorrow night...Adbert Alzolay on the bump for the Cubs & Freddy Peralta goes for the Brewers. First pitch is 6:40 pm.