Cubs fall 3-2 to Brewers; Darvish, Russell could be key down stretch
MILWAUKEE - Two suddenly-key members of the Cubs figured prominently Saturday night against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Starting pitcher Yu Darvish displayed little ill effect from the forearm tightness that scratched him from last Sunday's start.
Addison Russell, thrust back into the role of everyday shortstop with Javier Baez out with a hairline fracture of his left thumb, broke a scoreless tie with a home run in the fifth inning. Russell, however committed a throwing error to begin the bottom of the ninth inning, allowing Tyler Austin to reach. Christian Yelich doubled him home with two outs against Brandon Kintzler for a 3-2 Brewers victory.
The Cubs (76-65) are now 3½ games behind the first-place St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central.
Darvish looked sharp, working 5 scoreless innings and giving up 3 hits while walking one and striking out seven. He threw 72 pitches.
He has been the Cubs' steadiest starter of late, and with other pitchers enduring their ups and downs, he will hold a key to the Cubs' postseason chances. He said he was OK with being pulled after 5, with manager Joe Maddon playing it cautiously with the forearm.
"He explained why he didn't want me to pitch one more inning, and I understand 100 percent," Darvish said. "Forearm was good. The mechanics were a little bit off overall was good."
Russell, whose playing time has fluctuated after he returned from a domestic-violence-related suspension, moves back to the role he played when the Cubs won the 2016 World Series.
He has played mostly second base this year. Now he has to get used to a different throwing angle. The stop he made to field the grounder was good, but he said he "sailed" throw.
"I hate that it has to happen that way, but moving forward for September, I think that's just going to be more motivation to get better and work on some things," he said. "It's just getting back to the angle that's in front of you now the over-the-top throws. It's working on arm angles, basically. I think the feet are fine. The glove's fine. It's just the arm angles."
Change of plans:
The Cubs will flip-flop starting pitchers the next two days. Jon Lester will start today's series finale against the Brewers with Kyle Hendricks moving to Monday night's series opener at San Diego.
Dream comes true for Hultzen:
The dream finally came true for left-handed pitcher Danny Hultzen. The 29-year-old was selected by the Cubs from Class AAA Iowa Saturday.
Hultzen was the second pick overall in the 2011 draft by the Seattle Mariners. But shoulder ailments derailed his career. He missed all of the 2014 and 2017 seasons.
"I'm not even sure words can describe it," he said. "Gosh, it's been a long road. I just think about all the ups and downs of these past few years. It just makes it all worth it."
He appeared in 14 games with Iowa this year, going 0-1 with a 1.26 ERA and 3 saves. To make room on the 40-man roster for Hultzen, the Cubs designated catcher Taylor Davis for assignment.