Any concern about the major-league-leading Milwaukee Brewers losing three straight games for the first time since May 7-10 clearly is not shared by Christian Yelich.
The veteran slugger and the visiting Brewers will look to end the skid in the finale of a five-game series against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday.
Chicago emerged with a 4-3 victory on Wednesday after Daniel Palencia stranded the bases loaded in the ninth inning for his 18th save.
Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw made a stellar defensive play in the sixth inning and hit a solo homer in the eighth to bring the home crowd to its feet.
“This was unbelievable,” Shaw said. “I mean, this might be the loudest I’ve ever seen this place. The fans came out and we played a really good ballgame.”
The Cubs have won five of their past six to cut the Brewers’ lead atop the National League Central to six games.
Meanwhile, Milwaukee has lost four of its last five since winning 14 consecutive games, a single-season franchise record.
“If everyone thought we were going to go undefeated the rest of the season, then you don’t watch baseball,” Yelich said. “This is part of a baseball season. Things don’t go your way all the time. This team is fine. We’re very resilient. We’re not happy that we lost (Wednesday), but overall we’re pretty happy with how we competed.”
Brice Turang had three hits in the defeat for the Brewers, who went 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
“We didn’t get the outcome we wanted, but we showed tremendous heart and tremendous relentlessness,” Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said. “They got clutch hits, they made every defensive play, and that’s just baseball.”
Milwaukee will send right-hander Quinn Priester (11-2, 3.48 ERA) to the mound in the series finale against Chicago left-hander Shota Imanaga (8-5, 3.06).
Priester, 24, allowed two runs over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.
Acquired from the Boston Red Sox on April 7, Priester has played a critical role in Milwaukee’s success this season. He has allowed just 17 home runs in 23 games (18 starts) covering 124 innings.
Nico Hoerner is 4-for-8 with a home run against Priester, who is 1-0 with a 7.31 ERA in three career games (one start) versus the Cubs. Priester was rocked in a relief outing against Chicago on May 2 (seven runs in 4 1/3 innings) before beating the Cubs with 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball on July 29.
Imanaga, 31, turned in another strong outing on Saturday, giving up one run over seven innings in a no-decision against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Imanaga has posted a 2.25 ERA in three starts this month covering 20 innings. He has struck out 22 and walked just two over that stretch.
William Contreras is 3-for-7 with two homers against Imanaga, who is 1-2 with a 7.20 ERA in three career starts against Milwaukee. Imanaga lost to the Brewers on May 4, when he allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings. He strained his left hamstring in that contest and landed on the injured list for nearly two months.
Imanaga earned a victory at Milwaukee on July 30, when he fanned eight over five innings of three-run ball.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell has rested struggling right fielder Kyle Tucker for each of the past three games. After the Wednesday contest, Counsell confirmed a report that Tucker was diagnosed in June with a hairline fracture in his right hand.
“He was sore for a little while but was able to play,” Counsell said. “He had some more imaging, and it showed a small fracture that was healing.”
The injury could be a factor in the four-time All-Star’s extended slump. Tucker is batting .182 (16-for-88) with one homer and three steals in 26 games since the All-Star break.
–Field Level Media
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