Cubs shutout Brewers in Game 1 of doubleheader

Charles LeClaire - USA Today

by Tony Crumpton - Senior Editor - Tue Aug 16 16:35:53 GMT-04:00 2016

The Chicago Cubs defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 4-0 in game one of a doubleheader on a beautiful 80-degree Tuesday afternoon at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs have won 15 of 18 and have a major-league best 42 home wins.

Addison Russell hit a fly ball to left fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis for a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 Cubs lead in the first inning.

In the third inning, outfielder Chris Coghlan caught a flyball and then collided with Russell in the outfield. The athletic trainer P.J. Mainville checked on him, but he stayed in the game.

Sparkplug Dexter Fowler led off the third inning and came around to score on a wild pitch by Brewer's pitcher Matt Garza to put the Cubs up 2-0.

Another day and another squeeze play executed as pitcher Trevor Cahill scored Coghlan who doubled to begin the 4th inning as the Cubs went up 3-0. Speaking of Cahill, he was called up by the Cubs on Tuesday because of the doubleheader and pitched five scoreless frames scattering only two hits, two walks, and three strikeouts.

Former Cubs pitcher Matt Garza received the loss as he pitched five innings, giving up five hits, three earned runs, three walks, and two strikeouts.

Cubs relievers Mike Montgomery, Hector Rondon, Joe Smith, and Aroldis Chapman finished the final four innings to secure the win. It was the fifth save for Chapman as a member of the Cubs.

Coghlan had a sacrifice fly to score Ben Zobrist for an insurance run to put the Cubs up 4-0. According to ESPN Stats, the Cubs scored all of their runs without the benefit of a RBI hit.

Cubs will try for the sweep of the doubleheader against the Brewere tonight at 7:05 CT.