MILWAUKEE \u2014 Pete Crow-Armstrong crashing into the center-field wall as Jackson Chourio\u2019s three-run homer rattled off the batter\u2019s eye in center field felt awfully symbolic. In terms of both the game and the season for the Cubs.<\/p>\n
As a roar began to swell from the American Family Field crowd, much like in Game 1 of the NLDS<\/a>, the Brewers were running away with it. But Chourio\u2019s home run on Monday in Game 2<\/a> was not only a dagger in the Cubs\u2019 7-3 loss to Milwaukee<\/a>. It also had the feeling of being a dagger in this series and the Cubs\u2019 hopes for October, with the Brewers pushing Chicago to the brink of elimination.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cI ruined the game,\u201d Cubs starter Shota Imanaga said through interpreter Edwin Stanberry after allowing two homers in just 2 2\/3 innings as Chicago fell into an 0-2 hole. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of frustration within myself.\u201d<\/p>\n The Cubs had every reason to look at Game 2 as a must-win contest. They needed to slow Milwaukee\u2019s momentum in the series and create some of their own going into Game 3 on Wednesday at Wrigley Field<\/a>. And after they got just two outs from starter Matthew Boyd in Game 1, they needed a strong start from Imanaga to do that.<\/p>\n Handed a three-run lead thanks to a first-inning blast from Seiya Suzuki before he even took the mound, things were set up for the Cubs\u2019 southpaw to thrive. Instead, after he struck out the first two Milwaukee batters, things quickly began to unravel. Back-to-back singles from William Contreras and Christian Yelich set the table for Brewers first baseman Andrew Vaughn, whose towering, three-run blast instantly erased the Cubs\u2019 lead.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cI was just trying to keep the momentum going, have a team at-bat there,\u201d Vaughn said postgame. \u201cI was able to hit a pitch I could drive, and definitely a big moment there, and the momentum swing \u2014 that was huge.\u201d<\/p>\n With the early lead gone, that swing felt like the beginning of the end for the Cubs\u2019 lefty.<\/p>\n More bad outcomes for Imanaga came in the third inning, thanks to Brewers catcher William Contreras. The 27-year-old took a 91-mph fastball from Imanaga and deposited it into the second deck to break the tie and give Milwaukee a 4-3 lead it wouldn\u2019t relinquish.<\/p>\n The long ball has been the Achilles\u2019 heel all year for Imanaga, who finished the regular season with a 3.73 ERA in 144 \u2154 innings. In fact, Monday\u2019s outing marked the 11th consecutive start in which he has allowed a home run. Across that span, he has surrendered a total of 18 homers, including the pair in Game 2.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cAfter each time [I\u2019ve given up a home run], I\u2019ve talked with the pitching coaches, just trying to figure out a way to prevent that,\u201d Imanaga said. \u201cGood pitches, bad pitches \u2014 I feel like I need to have confidence to throw strikes in the zone.\u201d<\/p>\n Imanaga was on the front lines of this losing battle, but the reality of the NLDS thus far is that Chicago has been completely outclassed through the first two games. Simply put, the Brewers look like the better team. Their offense looks better than the Cubs\u2019 offense. Their pitching looks better than the Cubs\u2019 pitching. Their defense looks better than the Cubs\u2019 defense. And their manager looks better than the Cubs\u2019 manager.<\/p>\n