NEWSLETTER
The Cubs get swept in the double-header by the Brewers, which is unsurprising, but nevertheless perturbing.
At least they didn’t blow a billion chances like in the first game, but they certainly blew a GOLDEN one in the 7th. They loaded the bases with nobody out off of starter Aaron Ashby, but Brad Boxberger came in and struck out a pinch-hitting Nico Hoerner on a perfect pitch on the edge of the zone, and then Andrelton Simmons hit into an inning-ending double play, as he does. I would’ve liked to have seen someone else take that at bat, even if it meant something crazy thereafter like P.J. Higgins or Ian Happ having to play second base for the final two innings. It was the game there.
Ashby, by the way, is gonna be a problem.
Anyway. Called straight up from Double-A and then pressed into emergency service when Drew Smyly got pulled because of an oblique injury, Anderson Espinoza did really well. He was exactly as billed – wild but nasty – and managed to get through four innings, most of that time effective. I think there’s a big league reliever in there (starter is really hard to see), and regardless, it’s just so impressive that he got himself into this position after missing FOUR years due to injuries, surgeries, and the pandemic from 2017 through 2020.
If I’d known the Cubs were going to get 10 really good innings today from Matt Swarmer and Anderson Espinoza, I would’ve expected more than a Brewers sweep.
