Game 2 Review

The Score:
Milwaukee Brewers 8 Chicago Cubs 2

Players of the Game:
Jason Kendall: 3/4, 2 2B, 2 RBIs, SB, DP
Derek Lee: 2/4, HR, 2B

Game Recap:
I'm a bit befuddled. I never thought for a second that this series would start 2-0, but it did and it essentially hinged on the first pitch of the game. Ted Lilly got absolutely destroyed by by Brewers hitting, starting with a fastball that Rickie Weeks drilled into the street beyond the left-field bleachers of Wrigley Field. And after that it was pretty much a bloodbath. Jeff Suppan figured out Fukudome, by walking him and getting him out via Mark DeRosa, striking him out or getting him to ground out 1-3.

Suppan dealt all day, working his way into 7th before being relieved by another dangerous outing by Salomon Torres. Riske followed with another solid 2 innings of scoreless baseball. But the story of the game was really the Brewers offense and the Cubs lack of defense. Ryan Braun, Bill Hall and Corey Hart (that's 4,5,6) combined for 5 hits, 3 RBIs, BB, 2SB and some quality defense. The Cubs defense had 2 errors, leading to 2 runs, and pretty much gave up by the 6th inning.

In all honesty, it was a team effort. No individual performance made this game what it was, wit the exception of Jason Kendall's constant hard-nosed play, that is causing blue-collar Milwaukee fans to go ballistic about their new catcher. Just a bit bandwagon, but hey, that's the American fan. Nevertheless, if the Brewers looked good, really good. If they can keep the strikeouts down and get runs in with bases loaded and no outs, the experts are going to have to find some new jobs.

Predictions not good, but that's good:
I said this would be a close one. Hurray for being wrong. Suppan was solid, getting a big groundball to avoid a run in the 2nd and pretty much avoided any legitimate scares there after, but I thought for sure Lilly would deal in his first start at Wrigley this year. In the end, the Brewers destroyed Brewers pitching all day, and the bullpen fizzled just as hard as Lilly, making that prediction a good one. Fukudome struggled and Rickie flourished fueling my ego more and more. Don't worry, I only expect to be right about these things 50% of the time because other guys always step up.

What's on tap?:
Dave Bush. I'm not going to say anything. I just hope I'm wrong again and if I am, please please please get on my case, but I'm stubborn. So don't expect me to go down without a fight. Hopefully a little analysis of yesterday's game today, while I'm at work.

Cheers to a 2-0 record!

PS. A Strongbow is an English cider beer.