Post by Deleted on May 11, 2019 4:23:15 GMT -5
González pitches Brewers past Cubs(Chicago Cubs championship rings for sale) 7-0 for 7th straight win
CHICAGO (AP) Gio Gonzalez is quite comfortable with the Milwaukee Brewers. After a strange start to the season, that's a big deal for the veteran left-hander. Gonzalez pitched two-hit ball into the sixth inning and Ryan Braun homered, helping the Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs 7-0 on Friday for their season-high seventh straight victory. ''We pitched really good again,'' manager Craig Counsell said. ''Our guys did a great job, and it started with Gio.''
Gonzalez finished last year with Milwaukee, helping the Brewers make it to the NL Championship Series. But he was a free agent up until he signed a minor league contract with the Yankees in March. After opting out of his deal with New York, he returned to a Milwaukee team in need of some rotation help. It's worked out quite well so far, with Gonzalez (1-0) recording a 1.69 ERA over his first three starts. ''I'm just happy to put on a big league uniform,'' Gonzalez said, ''and I'm happy to do it with the Brewers. They've been great to me.'' Yasmani Grandal and Jesus Aguilar each drove in two runs for Milwaukee, which moved into a virtual tie with Chicago for the NL Central lead. Hernan Perez also contributed with a couple of nice plays at second base.
The Brewers(world series rings for sale) (24-16) moved a season-high eight games over .500 in their first visit to Wrigley Field since they topped the Cubs 3-1 in the division tiebreaker game Oct. 1. Chicago (22-14) had won 10 of 11, but it was shut down by Gonzalez and five relievers on a windy, cool day. Quintana (4-2) allowed three runs and four hits in 6 2/3 innings in his first loss since April 5. ''It was just a bit off for the offense today in terms of finishing it off,'' Cubs third baseman David Bote said. Braun put Milwaukee ahead to stay with his eighth homer with two out in the fourth. Quintana had retired 10 in a row before Braun drove a 1-0 pitch over the wall in center, answering the usual round of boos that chase the 2011 NL MVP whenever he visits Wrigley.
It was Braun's 38th homer against Chicago, his second-highest total against a single team. He has connected in each of his three games against the Cubs this year. ''Wrigley is always such a special place to play,'' Braun said. ''It's loud. It's always packed. It's energetic. You play in some of these ballparks now with the teams that aren't competing, and it can be really empty at times. It's not an enjoyable atmosphere to play in as a competitor. This place is always special. It's always fun.'' Milwaukee(championship rings) added two more in each of the final three innings. Grandal singled in Orlando Arcia and Aguilar walked with the bases loaded in the ninth.
Gonzalez struck out three and walked three in 5 2/3 innings. He got some help in the third when Perez robbed Albert Almora Jr. of a potential run-scoring single with a diving play on a grounder up the middle. ''He kept us off balance, made pitches,'' Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. ''We made a couple of well-contacted balls but for the most part, not.''
CHICAGO (AP) Gio Gonzalez is quite comfortable with the Milwaukee Brewers. After a strange start to the season, that's a big deal for the veteran left-hander. Gonzalez pitched two-hit ball into the sixth inning and Ryan Braun homered, helping the Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs 7-0 on Friday for their season-high seventh straight victory. ''We pitched really good again,'' manager Craig Counsell said. ''Our guys did a great job, and it started with Gio.''
Gonzalez finished last year with Milwaukee, helping the Brewers make it to the NL Championship Series. But he was a free agent up until he signed a minor league contract with the Yankees in March. After opting out of his deal with New York, he returned to a Milwaukee team in need of some rotation help. It's worked out quite well so far, with Gonzalez (1-0) recording a 1.69 ERA over his first three starts. ''I'm just happy to put on a big league uniform,'' Gonzalez said, ''and I'm happy to do it with the Brewers. They've been great to me.'' Yasmani Grandal and Jesus Aguilar each drove in two runs for Milwaukee, which moved into a virtual tie with Chicago for the NL Central lead. Hernan Perez also contributed with a couple of nice plays at second base.
The Brewers(world series rings for sale) (24-16) moved a season-high eight games over .500 in their first visit to Wrigley Field since they topped the Cubs 3-1 in the division tiebreaker game Oct. 1. Chicago (22-14) had won 10 of 11, but it was shut down by Gonzalez and five relievers on a windy, cool day. Quintana (4-2) allowed three runs and four hits in 6 2/3 innings in his first loss since April 5. ''It was just a bit off for the offense today in terms of finishing it off,'' Cubs third baseman David Bote said. Braun put Milwaukee ahead to stay with his eighth homer with two out in the fourth. Quintana had retired 10 in a row before Braun drove a 1-0 pitch over the wall in center, answering the usual round of boos that chase the 2011 NL MVP whenever he visits Wrigley.
It was Braun's 38th homer against Chicago, his second-highest total against a single team. He has connected in each of his three games against the Cubs this year. ''Wrigley is always such a special place to play,'' Braun said. ''It's loud. It's always packed. It's energetic. You play in some of these ballparks now with the teams that aren't competing, and it can be really empty at times. It's not an enjoyable atmosphere to play in as a competitor. This place is always special. It's always fun.'' Milwaukee(championship rings) added two more in each of the final three innings. Grandal singled in Orlando Arcia and Aguilar walked with the bases loaded in the ninth.
Gonzalez struck out three and walked three in 5 2/3 innings. He got some help in the third when Perez robbed Albert Almora Jr. of a potential run-scoring single with a diving play on a grounder up the middle. ''He kept us off balance, made pitches,'' Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. ''We made a couple of well-contacted balls but for the most part, not.''