Covering the bases 8/19/2025: Cubs 6, Brewers 4 (Game 1)
A day after a scheduled doubleheader was sliced in half due to rain, the Milwaukee Brewers dropped their second game in their last three – also only the second in August – falling to the Chicago Cubs 6-4 on Tuesday at Wrigley Field. It was the first game of a rescheduled twinbill. The Brewers (79-46) saw their lead over the second-place Cubs drop to eight games in the NL Central.
FIRST BASE: Making the Cubs work
While left-handed starter Matthew Boyd kept the Brewers in check for the most part, the Brewers forced the Cubs to use four relievers to cover the final 3⅔ innings. How available will those arms be for the second game of the day? The Brewers were unable to crack the Cubs' relievers, who allowed just two hits the rest of the way.
SECOND BASE: Pecking away
In true woodpecker fashion, the Brewers didn't cash it in when they fell behind 5-0. Christian Yelich got things started by hitting a solo homer in the fourth inning, his team-leading 26th long ball of the season. Sal Frelick had an RBI single in the fifth to pulled the Crew within 5-2, then Brice Turang and Frelick drove in runs in the sixth to make it 5-4.
THIRD BASE: Doomed by homers
Despite the wind blowing in, the Cubs hit a pair of key homers. Willi Castro hit a huge three-run homer in the third inning to put the Cubs up 5-0 – his first with the Cubs – then, after the Brewers had pulled within 5-4, rookie Owen Caissie added his first MLB homer, a solo shot in the sixth, to put the Cubs up 6-4.
HOME PLATE: Patrick struggles early
Right-hander Chad Patrick was a key part of the Brewers' rotation early in the season as the team battled injuries. He looked shaky early in this one and the Cubs took advantage. Patrick gave up two runs in the first inning and three more in the third before settling in. Patrick allowed five hits over five innings, walking two and striking out four. That Patrick was able to make it through five innings was huge for the second game of the doubleheader and the remainder of the five-game series.
EXTRA BASES: Can Woody stay unbeaten?
⚾ Right-hander Brandon Woodruff (4-0, 2.06 ERA) will look to remain unbeaten as he makes his eighth start of the season vs. Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon (7-6, 4.44 ERA), who is being activated from the injured list to make the start. Woodruff's control has been amazing considering he hadn't pitched since undergoing right shoulder surgery late in 2023. He has eight walks and 49 striketouts in 39⅓ innings. The Brewers have not lost this season with Woodruff starting.
⚾ First baseman Rhy Hoskins (sprained left thumb) was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday. Also, outfielder Jackson Chourio (strained right hamstring) will begin his own rehab assignment Friday with Nashville.
