Unhappy Return for Matt Garza as Cubs Sweep Brewers

Sep 3, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs shortstop Javier Baez (9) doubles against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Already guaranteed another series loss, the Brewers hoped to salvage something tonight in the final game of their three-game series with the Chicago Cubs.

Tonight marked the return of Matt Garza (7-7, 3.58 ERA) from the disabled list, where he had spent the last month. He took on Kyle Hendricks (5-1, 1.91 ERA) who dominated Milwaukee back in July.

Hendricks faced Milwaukee back on August 12 and went 7 1/3 innings without allowing a run, scattering six hits and a walk. Garza went on the disabled list after leaving his last start on August 3 after six innings of one-hit baseball against the Cardinals.

It was more of the same for the Brewers though as the Cubs completed the sweep and Milwaukee lost their season worst eighth straight game.

The Brewers opened the scoring, something they haven’t been doing much lately, in the top of the second inning. Khris Davis singled with one out and came around to score two batters later on a Logan Schafer single.

The Cubs answered right back though when Chris Valaika popped a two-run home run (3) in the bottom half of the inning out of the eighth spot in the lineup to put the Cubs on top 2-1 after two innings.

The Cubs extended the lead in the third. Chris Coghlan led off with a single and stole second. He came in to score on a Luis Valbuena single. Valbuena popped up between left and short and Khris Davis and Jean Segura couldn’t decide who should catch it, so neither did.

Coghlan moved to third on the play and Valbuena moved to second and both came around to score on a Jorge Soler double to left making it 4-1 Cubs. Welington Castillo followed with a double of his own to bring in Soler and make it 5-1.

Two batters later Logan Watkins singled to right to bring in Castillo and make it 6-1 Cubs. That was it for Garza. He went three innings and allowed six runs, all earned, on eight hits and a walk. He struck out three.

Marco Estrada came in to pitch in the fourth inning for Milwaukee on a double switch with Mark Reynolds replacing Matt Clark who made the last out of the top of the fourth.

The Brewers finally got to Hendricks in the top of the sixth. Gerardo Parra and Jonathan Lucroy had back-to-back singles to open the inning. Two batters later Khris Davis singled to load the bases with one out.

Lyle Overbay came in to pinch hit for Estrada, who threw two scoreless innings, and reached on an error by Valaika at first to bring in Parra and leave the bases loaded. After a Schafer pop out the Cubs called for Justin Grimm to face Segura who flew out to right on the 9^th pitch of his at bat to leave the bases loaded.

Hendricks went 5 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on nine hits. He didn’t strike out or walk a batter. Both bullpens worked scoreless innings in the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth innings to close the game out with the Cubs on top 6-2.

The Brewers will return home for a four-game series with the first place St. Louis Cardinals, who just swept the Pittsburgh Pirates.