Chatwood's gaffe highlights Cubs' shutout loss to Brewers |
MILWAUKEE — The second installment of the Chicago Cubs' current road series against the Milwaukee Brewers is one that the Cubs will want to soon forget. Mustering just two hits and two walks over the course the entire game, the Cubs experienced a letdown performance following a thrilling extra-innings win on Monday.
Getting shut out 4-0 by the Brew Crew, the North Siders were done in by Milwaukee third baseman Travis Shaw, who served as a one-man wrecking crew. Responsible for all four RBI, Shaw clubbed a pair of two-run doubles off Cubs starter Tyler Chatwood as part of a 2-3 performance at the plate. Despite struggling conspicuously less with ball control and walks than he has in recent starts, Chatwood was still underwhelming in the loss. Giving up four runs on five hits and two walks, Chatwood embarrassed himself with a major gaffe on the defensive end. With his team leading 2-0 in the third, the Brewers' Lorenzo Cain hit a chopper up the middle that was fielded by Cubs second baseman Javier Baez. Christian Yelich of Milwaukee was on second at the time, but he was trailing rather far from the bag when Baez fielded the hard-hit ball. As a result, Yelich was caught in a rundown between second and third. After a few throws, Chatwood received the ball at third base and subsequently chased Yelich toward second. However, midway through the pursuit, Chatwood evidently got the wild idea of abandoning the very premise of the pickle by lightly jogging behind Yelich and applying the tag when Yelich was standing on top of second base. Chatwood seemed to think that Cain, who advanced very close to second during the rundown, had touched second base before retreating back to first. Therefore, Chatwood assumed that Yelich would be called out when tagged. Unfortunately for Chatwood, Cain never touched the bag. Furthermore, it would not have mattered even if he had, for the trailing runner is the runner who is in jeopardy should two runners occupy the same bag. Heads up baserunning by the @Brewers or a brain fart by the @Cubs? Adding insult to injury, Cain made it back to first base with ease, meaning that the Cubs failed to out either runner on what should have been a routine outing of the lead runner, Yelich. The ensuing at-bat saw Shaw hit his second RBI double of the game. The two-bagger scored both Yelich and Cain and put the Brewers up 4-0. Earlier, in the first frame, Shaw hit a clutch double with two outs to put two runs on the scoreboard. Chatwood gradually improved as his five-inning start progressed, but he received the loss, nevertheless, to fall to 3-5. Chatwood, who has a 3.98 ERA, last won a start on May 11. The Cubs advanced a man into scoring position just once in what marked their worst offensive showing in quite some time. Brewers hurlers Chase Anderson pitched seven dominant innings, in which he allowed just one hit and struck out six. Anderson was credited win the win to improve to 5-5. The 4-0 loss to the Brewers (40-27) dropped the Cubs (38-26) back into second place in the National League Central on the day after they took the lead in the division. Chicago will have an opportunity to regain the top spot in the series finale of the three-game set at Miller Park tomorrow afternoon.
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