Matt Garza was once again brilliant for the Chicago Cubs, although we never know when the last time we’ll see him in a Cub uniform is. Garza has been the subject of trade rumors over the past couple of weeks and he couldn’t be helping the Cubs out more. Not only is he winning games, but he’s pitching good in those games which will most likely add value to him at the trade deadline, which, in turn helps the Cubs in the long run.
Garza went seven innings, gave up eight hits, one earned run, and struck out ten batters while helping the Cubs win the game 7-2. Garza pushed his record to 3-1 on the year and he also kept his ERA in the 3′s. Blake Parker gave up one run in his one third of an inning, but the Cubs already had a healthy lead so the run hardly meant anything.
The newest Cub, Brian Bogusevic, started the scoring in the second inning when he doubled to drive in Ryan Sweeney. From there, Darwin Barney drove in Bogusevic on an infield single. In the third inning, Ryan Sweeney made it into second on an error by left fielder Caleb Gindl, scoring Starlin Castro. Later in the third, Dioner Navarro blew the game wide open with a three run home run to right field that scored Sweeney and Bogusevic. Nate Schierholtz capped the scoring for the Cubs in the fourth when he hit a sac fly to right that plated Garza. Shortstop Starlin Castro had two hits in his five trips.
For the Brewers, starter Wily Peralta struggled a little in keeping the game in check, but didn’t get much defensive help to speak of. Peralta went five innings, gave up eight hits, and seven runs, however, only three were earned. The Brewer bullpen threw four innings and only gave up one hit.
Logan Schafer had two hits for the Brewers including a sixth inning double that scored the first Brewer run of the game. Then in eighth Juan Francisco hit a home run that scored their second and final run of the ball game. Former Cub Aramis Ramirez had two hits in his three trips for the Brewers.
The Cubs will now travel all the way out west to take on the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. First pitch tomorrow is scheduled for 9:10 PM CT. The probable starters are, Hisashi Iwakuma (7-3) for the Mariners and Travis Wood (5-6) for the Cubs.