Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (5/31/22): Cubs 8, Brewers 7 – Wisdom Bomb Leads Cubs to Win
The Cubs were hoping to bounce back from a Memorial Day doubleheader sweep against the Brewers on Tuesday night. Chicago was able to rally back from a multi-run deficit for the first time all season and pulled out a win.
Willson Contreras put his team ahead 1-0 with an absolute laser-beam home run to left field in the bottom of the 1st. Cubs starter Justin Steele hit a rough spot in the top of the third. A walk and two bloop singles set up a bases-clearing double by Tyrone Taylor to put Milwaukee ahead by two.
Chicago rallied to tie the game in the 4th inning after a single by Andrelton Simmons and a throwing error by former Cub catcher Victor Caratini. The home team had chances to score additional runs in that frame and in the 5th but failed to do so.
Caratini was able to redeem himself in the top of the 6th when he came up to bat against Rowan Wick with two on and two out. He launched a fly ball that just barely got over the right-centerfield basket for a three-run homer.
The Cubs answered back immediately with four in the bottom half of the inning. P.J. Higgins hit a two-run homer off of Trevor Kelley. Christopher Morel tripled and scored on a double by Contreras and would come home on a Frank Schwindel two-bagger to make it 7-6.
The Brewers were able to tie the score yet again in the top of the 7th when Rowdy Tellez singled home Christian Yelich. Chicago forged back ahead on one big swing from Patrick Wisdom, who blasted a Brad Boxberger offering for a long solo home run to left.
David Robertson came on in the 9th to close out the rare one-run Cubs home victory. (Box score)
Why the Cubs Won
The Cubs were able to come through with men on base and they hit for extra-base power with three home runs, two triples, and two doubles.
Key Moment
Brad Boxberger was able to escape a bases-loaded nobody-out jam on Monday night. He was not so lucky Tuesday, as his hanging changeup was destroyed by Wisdom.
Stats That Matter
- Steele was good again, other than one bad inning that limited his night: 5 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 6 K, and 4 BB.
- Contreras stayed hot with his two extra-base hits, including the homer.
- Clint Frazier had his best day as a member of the Cubs with two hits and a walk.
- Morel has reached base in his first 14 games in Chicago, a franchise record to begin a career.
Bottom Line
That certainly was an exciting game to watch and it was nice to have a winning outcome for a change in a close game. It would be nice if young players such as Christopher Morel and Clint Frazier could continue to break out. It would give a bit of meaning to a season that is seemingly going nowhere.
On Deck
The final game of the series is Wednesday night at 7:05pm CT. Kyle Hendricks takes on a yet to be named Brewers starter in a game airing on Marquee Sports Network and 670 The Score.