Brewers can't overcome Quinn Priester's first inning struggles in Game 3 loss

The Milwaukee Brewers need to find a way to pitch a clean first inning. In Game 1 of the NLDS, Freddy Peralta allowed a leadoff home run to Chicago Cubs' first baseman Michael Busch. In Game 2, it was a three-run homer off the bat of Seiya Suzuki that put a damper on Aaron Ashby's opening attempt. Tonight, Quinn Priester surrendered four runs and was removed from the game before he could collect his third out.

It was a tough introduction to the postseason for the 25-year-old who grew up a Cubs fan, but Priester simply couldn't locate his pitches in the first inning. After another leadoff homer from Busch, Priester allowed a single to Nico Hoerner, walked Kyle Tucker, lucked out with an incredible sliding catch from Sal Frelick in right field, and then walked Ian Happ to load the bases. After an encouraging strikeout of Carson Kelly, Pete Crow-Armstrong lined a two-RBI single to right field, giving the Cubs a 3-1 lead and forcing Pat Murphy to remove his starter from the game after just two outs.

Priester's replacement, Nick Mears, threw his second pitch of the game to the backstop, allowing another run to score from third base, and in the blink of an eye, after lucking into a run in the top half of the frame, the Brewers were down three runs, a deficit that they couldn't overcome before the end of the game.

Brewers fall to Cubs in Game 3 after allowing four runs in the first inning

The good news is the Brewers pitching staff didn't surrender a single run from the second inning on, with impressive performances from José Quintana, Grant Anderson, and Chad Patrick leading the way. A fourth inning RBI single and a seventh inning homer, both off the bat of Jake Bauers, made it a one-run game, but the Brewers couldn't pull even with the North Siders despite several scoring threats throughout the later innings of the game.

Priester displayed impressive maturity in his postgame comments, taking full responsibility for the team's loss in Game 3, as captured and posted on the social media platform X by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Todd Rosiak.

It's certainly not the outcome the Brewers were hoping for, but there are several reasons to remain encouraged about their chances of winning the series tomorrow night. For one, while the Brewers have to decide who they will be throwing in tomorrow night's game, the Cubs have an even tougher decision to make. Matthew Boyd, who would be throwing on four days' rest, remains a possibility, but after his Game 1 performance, the choice might be tough to justify.

On top of that, while the Cubs pulled off the win tonight, it took all of their high-leverage arms to do so, whereas the Brewers navigated the contest without using Trevor Megill or Abner Uribe. Whether it is Freddy Peralta starting the pivotal Game 4 or someone else, the back end of the Brewers bullpen will be well-rested for their quest to clinch a spot in the NLCS.

Additionally, outside of Priester handing the Cubs a few runs in the first inning, giving them two free baserunners with walks to Tucker and Happ, Chicago's offense was unspectacular in Game 3. They managed just five hits after the first inning, and had just two true scoring threats.

Plenty needs to be decided before tomorrow night's game, including the start time, as the game could be flexed to an earlier time if the Los Angeles Dodgers complete a sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies tonight, but the Brewers chances to advance in the postseason for the first time since 2018 remain strong.