Brewers offense sputters as Cubs win 5-0

The Milwaukee Brewers failed to get anything going offensively as they fell 5-0 to the Chicago Cubs today at Wrigley Field. Their ace, Freddy Peralta, labored through five stressful innings and kept Milwaukee in the game, but ultimately the Brewers' inability to get hits in big moments cost them. On the other side, Cubs starter Javier Assad wasn't untouchable but he did just enough to keep the Brewers off the board.

Milwaukee nearly got out to an early lead in the top of the first. After a one-out double, William Contreras advanced to third on a Tyler Black groundout. With two outs, Willy Adames hit a ground ball between short and third, but a nice play was made by Dansby Swanson, whose throw beat Adames by a step.

Milwaukee threatened again in the third when Sal Frelick hit a two-out double, but Contreras—who has spoiled us so badly in these situations that it almost felt a certainty that he'd come through—grounded out to end the inning. The Brewers had two runners on in both the fourth and fifth innings as well, but a combination of bad luck and good Cubs defense kept Milwaukee off the board.

Peralta, meanwhile, was battling his command, but he was also nearly unhittable early. The Cubs' only hit through four innings was a bloop single by Ian Happ, but Peralta kept falling behind hitters and had walked four in that same timeframe. He was able to limit the damage though, with some defensive assists, including a nice double play on a line drive to Oliver Dunn, who doubled off Christopher Morel at first.

The Cubs broke through, though, in the fifth. Pete Crow-Armstrong reached on an infield hit and Peralta's control betrayed him again as he hit Miguel Amaya on a 2-2 pitch. With two on, Chicago got their first solid hit of the game when Nico Hoerner doubled into the right-field gap and knocked in both runners. With two outs and Hoerner on third, Peralta put a curveball in the dirt that Contreras couldn't handle, making it 3-0. It was a struggle, but Peralta finally got the last out to end the fifth, and his day.

The Brewers' offense was unable to answer in the top of the sixth, and in the bottom of the inning, Swanson greeted new pitcher Thyago Vieira with a solo shot to the left-field bleachers. Yency Almonte replaced Assad in the sixth and had no trouble retiring the Brewers in order.

Ultimately, the Brewers went quietly. Chicago tacked on another in the bottom of the seventh on a Morel RBI single off of Janson Junk, and the Brewers were unable to get anything going offensively. Adames and Rhys Hoskins both hit balls that might have gotten out on a calmer day in the Windy City, but other than that, the Brewers were unable to muster anything beyond a Dunn single against the Chicago bullpen.

Despite all the early traffic on the bases, the Brewers were shut out because they went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left eight runners on base. Freddy Peralta had his shakiest start of the year, though he wasn't terrible, and the Cubs were able to take the series. There wasn't much to write home about offensively; only Contreras reached base more than once, with his first-inning double and a walk in the fifth.

Peralta only allowed three hits but he walked six, hit a batter, and allowed a run to score on a wild pitch. It led to three earned runs in five innings, while he struck out five.

The Brewers are back in action tomorrow night in Kansas City against the Royals. That game starts at 6:40 p.m. CT, with Bryse Wilson scheduled to take on KC ace Cole Ragans.