This was not the sort of game the Cubs have played in recent weeks. Jameson Taillon was off his game Thursday, lasting only four innings and allowing three home runs. Génesis Cabrera had a rough relief appearance, serving up a three-run homer that put the Cubs behind 8-3 in the fifth.
That, plus an annoying little rainshower that decided to place itself right over Wrigley Field and almost nowhere else, made the beginnings of this game … well, let’s just say not my favorite.
And despite the fact that the Cubs lost to the Brewers 8-7, give the Cubs a lot of credit for coming back from that five-run deficit to make it a one-run game and getting the tying run to scoring position in the eighth.
Here’s how it all went down.
The Brewers scored a run on a pair of hits in the top of the first, but Taillon induced William Contreras to hit into an inning-ending double play.
Then the Cubs actually had the lead, briefly. Kyle Tucker walked with one out in the bottom of the first and one out later, Pete Crow-Armstrong launched one [VIDEO].
That was his 20th, and with his 23 stolen bases, that made him the first to reach 20/20 this year, and by far the earliest Cub to do it, as noted here:
Pete Crow-Armstrong:
First player in Cubs history with 20 HR & 20 SB before the All-Star Break
— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) June 19, 2025
More on PCA’s 20th from BCB’s JohnW53:
Pete Crow-Armstrong hit his 20th home run in his 73rd game.
A Cub had reached 20 homers in 73 or fewer games 29 times before, seven of them since 2000: Sammy Sosa in 2000-02 and 2004-05, Alfonso Soriano in 2008 and Kris Bryant in 2016.Sosa did it seven times in all. Ernie Banks did it five times; Hack Wilson, three; Gabby Hartnett and Hank Sauer, twice.
PCA is the 10th to do it once. The others: Bryant, Andre Dawson, Ralph Kiner, Dave Kingman, Derrek Lee, Rick Monday, Ryne Sandberg, Soriano and Billy Williams.
Unfortunately, the lead did not last long when Rhys Hoskins homered in the second, tying the game, and after a walk Caleb Durbin hit a two-run blast to make it 4-2 Milwaukee.
About that Hoskins homer… [VIDEO]
Yes, that’s me, standing up and looking around for the ball, which I thought had bounced in front of me. Instead, it went off a railing behind and back down into the bleachers.
Anyway.
The Brewers scored another run off Tailllon in the third to make it 5-2, and after Jamo managed to get through the fourth without allowing a run, he was lifted from the game. It was the most runs he’d allowed since the Mets scored six (five earned) on May 9, and might have been worse if not for some good defense by Ian Happ [VIDEO].
The Cubs did get one run back in the bottom of the fourth. With two out, Dansby Swanson hit his 14th homer almost to the bottom of the left field video board [VIDEO].
Cabrera was given that two-run deficit in the fifth and it did not go well. He issued a one-out walk and then Brice Turang doubled in between Tucker and PCA. A pop fly to first followed, and there was hope Cabrera could get out of the inning, but Isaac Collins’ three-run homer made it 8-3.
Cabrera has been… okay. Just okay. Some good outings, some shaky ones, this bad one. I suspect he might be DFA when Shōta Imanaga is ready to return.
Give a tremendous amount of credit in this game to Chris Flexen, who threw three shutout innings, allowing one hit and one walk. That helped give the Cubs a chance to come back.
In the bottom of the seventh, Carson Kelly led off with a single. Nico Hoerner batted next [VIDEO].
Nico is clearly safe on the relay throw, but was called out. It did not take the replay crew long to overturn that call. Matt Shaw then struck out, but Happ homered to make it 8-5 [VIDEO].
And after Flexen threw his third scoreless inning, the Cubs put together another rally. With one out, PCA was hit by a pitch and Swanson and Michael Busch walked to load the bases. Vidal Brujàn ran for Busch — unfortunately, he was forced at second by Kelly, but a run scored to make it 8-6 [VIDEO].
Brewers shortstop Joey Ortiz made a nice stop, but Hoerner beat out the infield hit and Swanson scored to make it 8-7.
That, unfortunately, was that, as Shaw popped up to end the inning.
Drew Pomeranz threw a scoreless top of the ninth, continuing his 0.00 ERA season (as did Flexen).
In the bottom of the ninth, Happ walked to lead off the inning. You know, I often post bad umpiring calls against the Cubs, so let me post one here that went in their favor. As you can see, Happ probably should have been called out on strikes on the pitch that was called ball four.
Okay, the Cubs will take that! Tying run on base. But Tucker struck out, and that brought up Seiya Suzuki. He grounded into a double play to end the game, but as you can see here… pitch 5, which was called ball three, could have been called strike three. At least then, PCA would have come to bat!
We definitely need the challenge system, and soon.
In any case, credit to the Cubs for not quitting on this game when they were down five runs going into the bottom of the seventh. I like the resiliency of this team, that will serve them well going forward.
The announced crowd of 41,078 was the largest at Wrigley Field since 41,179 were announced on Aug. 7, 2019, with the Athletics in town. And pretty much everyone stayed till the end. It was entertaining, even with the not-good result. The Brewers move to within 5½ games of the Cubs, and the Cardinals, who defeated the White Sox in the first game of their doubleheader Thursday, move to within six games. The Reds lost Thursday and remain 6½ games behind.
The Cubs open a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field. Craig Counsell has switched around a couple of starters. In the current rotation, Cade Horton would be next up. He’s been moved to Saturday, and Matthew Boyd will start on regular rest Friday. George Kirby will go for the Mariners. Game time is 1:20 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network (and MLB Network outside the Cubs and Mariners market territories).