Live Blogging: Shish on Baseball: Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs 09/08/2017

Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs TV Call

Hello and welcome to another edition of 'Live Blogging on Shish on Baseball'. Tonight it is the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs. This is the third time that I am live Blogging a Brewers/Cubs matchup. But this game will played at Wrigley Field, under the lights, on a Friday Night for the first time in Wrigley Field history.

​The Brewers are coming in with a record of 72-68, while the Cubs are 77-63. The Cubs are 5 games ahead of Brewers and Cardinals for N.L. Central lead. The Brewers and Cardinals are 3 games behind the Rockies for the last wild card spot.

Tonight's pitching matchup is Jimmy Nelson for the Brewers and John Lackey for the Cubs. Nelson is 11-6, 3.59 ERA, and 192 Ks. Lackey comes in with a record of 11-10, 4.74 ERA, and 131 Ks.

It is the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs, coming up shortly.

Starting Lineups:
Milwaukee Brewers (72-68):
1. Eric Thames 1B
2. Neil Walker 2B
3. Ryan Braun LF
4. Travis Shaw 3B
5. Domingo Santana RF
6. Stephen Vogt C
7. Keon Broxton CF
8. Orlando Arcia SS
9. Jimmy Nelson P
SP: Jimmy Nelson (RHP) (11-6, 3.59 ERA, 192 Ks)

Chicago Cubs (77-63):
1. Jon Jay LF
2. Kris Bryant 3B
3. Anthony Rizzo 1B
4. Ben Zobrist 2B
5. Alex Availa C
6. Ian Happ CF
7. Jason Heyward RF
8. Javier Baez SS
9. John Lackey P
SP: John Lackey (RHP) (11-10, 4.74 ERA, 131 K)

Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

Top of 1st Inning:
Due Up:
1. Thames
2. Walker
3. Braun
John Lackey now starting as Cubs pitcher.
Scores:
​First pitch recorded at 7:08 p.m.
Thames leads off the game with a standing double to left center field. Runner on 2nd.
Walker grounds out to Baez. Thames advances to third. 1 Out. Runner on 3rd.
HOME RUN: Ryan Braun hits a 2-run home run off of John Lackey. MIL 2, CHC 0
​Shaw flies out to Happ. 1 Out.
Santana flies out to Heyward. 3 Outs.

Middle of 1st Inning:
MIL 2, CHC 0

Bottom of 1st Inning:
Due Up:
1. Jay
2. Bryant
3. Rizzo
​Jay strikes out swinging. 1 Out.
Bryant grounds out to Arcia. 2 Outs.
Rizzo strikes out swinging. 3 Outs.
Cubs go down 1-2-3, in their half of 1st Inning.

End of 1st Inning:
MIL 2, CHC 0

Top of 2nd Inning:
Due Up:
6. Vogt
7. Broxton
8. Arcia
​Vogt grounds out to Rizzo. Rizzo to Lackey. 1 Out.
Broxton singles to right center field. Runner on 1st.
Arcia flies out to Happ. 2 Outs.
Broxton steals second base. Runner on 2nd.
Nelson strikes out swinging. 3 Outs.
Brewers left a runner on second stranded.

Middle of 2nd Inning:
MIL 2, CHC 0

Bottom of 2nd Inning:
Due Up:
4. Zobrist
5. Avila
6. Happ
​Zobrist doubles to left field. Runner on 2nd.
Avila strikes out swinging. 1 Out.
Zobrist advances to third on a wild pitch. Runner on 3rd.
Happ grounds out to Nelson. 2 Outs.
Heyward draws a base on balls. Runners on 1st and 3rd.
Baez lines out to Broxton. 3 Outs.
Cubs strand two runners on base.

End of 2nd Inning:
MIL 2, CHC 0

Top of 3rd Inning;
Due Up:
1. Thames
2. Walker
3. Braun
Thames strikes out swinging. 1 Out.
Walker flies out to Jay. 2 Outs.
Braun gets hit by a pitch. Runner on 1st.
Shaw grounds into unassisted fielder's choice to shortstop. Braun is out at second. 3 Outs.
​
Middle of 3rd Inning:
MIL 2, CHC 0

Bottom of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
9. Lackey
1. Jay
2. Bryant
​Lackey gets called out on strikes. 1 Out.
Jay flies out to Braun. 2 Outs.
Bryant singles to right field. Runner on 1st.
Rizzo singles to right field. Bryant advances to third. Runners on 1st and 3rd.
Zobrist gets called out on strikes. 3 Outs.
Cubs left Bryant and Rizzo stranded on base.

End of 3rd Inning:
MIL 2, CHC 0

Top of 4th Inning:
Due Up:
5. Santana
6. Vogt
7. Broxton
Scores:
Lackey currently at 48 pitches.
Santana strikes out swinging. 1 Out.
Vogt grounds out to Rizzo. Rizzo to Lackey. 2 Outs.
Broxton gets called out on strikes. 2 Outs.
Brewers go down 1-2-3, in their half of 4th Inning.

Middle of 4th Inning:
MIL 2, CHC 0

Bottom of 4th Inning:
Due Up:
5. Avila 
6. Happ
7. Heyward
​Avila singles to left field. Runner on 1st.
Happ gets called out on strikes. 1 Out.
Heyward grounds into 4-6-3 double play. 3 Outs.

End of 4th Inning:
MIL 2, CHC 0

Top of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
8. Arcia
9. Nelson 
1. Thames
​Arcia grounds out to Lackey. 1 Out.
Lackey currently at 60 pitches.
Nelson singles off the left field wall. Runner on 1st.
Thames grounds into 3-6-1 double play. 3 Outs.
Brewers side is retired. 

Middle of 5th Inning:
MIL 2, CHC 0

Bottom of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
8. Baez
9. Lackey
1. Jay
​Baez grounds out to Shaw. 1 Out.
Lackey gets called out on strikes. 2 Outs.
Jay gets hit by a pitch. Runner on 1st.
Nelson currently at 71 pitches.
Jay steals second base. Runner on 2nd.
Bryant draws a base on balls. Jay advances to third on a wild pitch. Runners on 1st and 3rd.
Rizzo flies out to Broxton. 3 Outs.
Cubs left Jay and Bryant stranded. 

End of 5th Inning:
MIL 2, CHC 0

Top of 6th Inning:
Due Up:
2. Walker
3. Braun
4. Shaw
​Walker draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st.
Braun gets called out on strikes. 1 Out.
Shaw strikes out swinging. 2 Outs.
Santana strikes out swinging. 3 Outs.
Brewers strand Walker on 1st base. 

Middle of 6th Inning:
MIL 2, CHC 0

Bottom of 6th Inning:
Due Up:
4. Zobrist
5. Avila 
6. Happ
​PITCHING CHANGE: Josh Hader (LHP) replaces Jimmy Nelson as Brewers pitcher.
Zobrist flies out to Santana. 1 Out.
PINCH-HITTING: Albert Almora Jr. pinch-hitting for Alex Avila. 
Almora grounds out to Shaw. 2 Outs.
Happ flies out to Santana. 3 Outs.
Cubs go down 1-2-3, in their half of 6th Inning.

End of 6th Inning:
MIL 2, CHC 0

Top of 7th Inning:
Due Up:
6. Vogt
7. Broxton 
8. Arcia
Scores:
​SUBSTITUTION: Victor Caratini to play catcher for the Cubs. Caratini will bat in Cubs lineup. 
Vogt flies out to Happ. 1 Out.
Jefferes and Drake; both righties, are warming up in Brewers Bullpen.
Justin Wilson (LHP) warming up in Cubs Bullpen.
Broxton strikes out swinging. 2 Outs.
Cubs elect to intentionally pass on Arcia. Runner on 1st.
Lackey currently at 98 pitches.
Hader strikes out swinging. 3 Outs.
Brewers left Arcia stranded on base. 

Middle of 7th Inning:
MIL 2, CHC 0

Bottom of 7th Inning:
Due Up:
7. Heyward 
8. Baez
9. Lackey?
​SUBSTITUTION: Manny Pina replaces Stephen Vogt as Brewers catcher.
Heyward strikes out swinging. 1 Out.
Baez flies out to Broxton. 2 Outs.
PINCH-HITTING; Taylor Davis makes his MLB Debut, pinch-hitting for John Lackey.
Davis strikes out swinging. 3 Outs.
Cubs go down 1-2-3, in their half of 7th Inning.

End of 7th Inning:
MIL 2, CHC 0

Top of 8th Inning:
Due Up:
1. Thames 
2. Walker
3. Braun
​PITCHING CHANGE: Brian Duensing (LHP) replaces John Lackey as Cubs pitcher.
PINCH-HITTING: Jesus Aguilar pinch-hitting for Eric Thames.
Aguilar lines out to Happ. 1 Out.
Walker pops out to Zobrist. 2 Outs.
Braun draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st.
Shaw flies out to Happ. 3 Outs.
Brewers left Braun stranded on first base.

Middle of 8th Inning:
MIL 2, CHC 0

Bottom of 8th Inning:
Due Up:
1. Jay
2. Bryant
3. Rizzo
​SUBSTITUTION: Jesus Aguiar to play first base. Eric Sogard comes in to replace Neil Walker at second base.
Jay draws a lead-off walk. Runner on 1st.
PITCHING CHANGE: Anthony Swarzak (RHP) replaces Josh Hader as Brewers pitcher.
Bryant gets called out on strikes. 1 Out.
Rizzo flies out to Broxton. 2 Outs.
Zobrist gets called out on strikes. 3 Outs.
Cubs left Jay stranded on base. 

End of 8th Inning:
MIL 2, CHC 0

Top of 9th Inning:
Due Up:
5. Santana
6. Pina
7. Broxton
​PITCHING CHANGE: Hector Rondon (RHP) replaces Brian Duensing as Cubs pitcher.
Santana gets called out on strikes. 1 Out.
Pina lines out to Rondon. 2 Outs.
Broxton strikes out swinging. 3 Outs.
Brewers go down 1-2-3, in their half of 9th Inning.

Middle of 9th Inning:
MIL 2, CHC 0

Bottom of 9th Inning:
Due Up:
5. Caratini?
6. Happ
7. Heyward
​PITCHING CHANGE: Corey Knebel (RHP) replaces Anthony Swarzak as Brewers pitcher. 
SUBSTITUTION: Hernan Perez replaces Domingo Santana at right field. 
PINCH-HITTING: Tommy La Stella pinch-hitting for Victor Caratini.
La Stella flies out to Perez. 1 Out.
Happ flies out to Broxton. 2 Outs.
Heyward singles to left field. Runner on 1st.
Heyward advances to second on defensive indifference. Runner on 2nd.
Baez strikes out swinging. 3 Outs.
Cubs left Heyward stranded on base. 

Final: 
MIL 2, CHC 0
MIL: (73-68)
CHC: (77-64)
W: Nelson (12-6)
L: Lackey (11-11)
SV: Knebel (33)
PoG: Braun 1/2 HR, 2 RBI, BB
ToG: 2:51

Final Thoughts: Well pitched game from both teams.  Ryan Braun was the difference in tonight's game with the 2-run home run as the game's only score. With the win, the Brewers shed the Cubs lead to 4 games in the N.L. Central. 

This is Paul Shishkoff Jr. This has been 'Live Blogging on Shish on Baseball'. Thanks for visiting this page.