Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (5/30/24): Brewers 6, Cubs 4 – Sánchez Home Run Wins Game/Series

The Cubs tried to earn a split against the first-place Brewers on Thursday afternoon and were able to tie the score two separate times on dramatic home runs. Unfortunately, the Crew hit their own late-inning homer and were able to win the game and the series.

Chicago grabbed the lead in the 1st inning when Cody Bellinger lined a solo shot out to right off of Colin Rea. Jameson Taillon had his only bad frame in the 2nd when he allowed the bottom of the Brewers’ lineup to score three runs. Gary Sánchez hit a sacrifice fly, Joey Ortiz doubled, and Blake Perkins singled to produce the offense.

The game remained 3-1 until the top of the 7th when pinch-hitter Seiya Suzuki cracked a two-run blast against lefty Bryan Hudson to even the contest at 3-3. Milwaukee responded against Mark Leiter Jr. with two out in the bottom of the frame when Perkins singled, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch that catcher Miguel Amaya probably should have blocked.

Brice Turang then hit a little dribbler down the third base line and Leiter tried to make a desperate jump throw to first, but he had no chance to get the speedy infielder and the home team went up 4-3.

The Cubs victimized Hudson again in the 8th inning when Christopher Morel was finally rewarded for a hard-hit ball with a game-tying solo shot to right center. However, as often has been the case recently, the Brewers would have the last word when Sánchez crushed a two-run homer on a Tyson Miller fastball to go ahead 6-4, which would be the final score. (Box score)

Key Moment

Miller challenged Sánchez on a 3-2 count with first base open and paid for it with a long game-winning home run.

Why the Cubs Lost

Something always seemed to go wrong in at least one aspect of every game during this slump. Thursday it was the bullpen’s turn to have issues and they couldn’t keep Milwaukee off the board late.

Stats That Matter

• Taillon had a quality start and there certainly wasn’t much to complain about with his performance: 6 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 4 K, and 1 BB.
• Bellinger is starting to heat up at the plate and the Cubs really need him.
• Getting a power surge from Suzuki or Morel would also help, so seeing homers from them is encouraging.

Bottom Line

The month of May has been a disaster for Chicago and they will be very happy to put it in the rearview mirror. The Cubs have put themselves in a position now where they have to play very well against the Reds and White Sox over the next week if they want to stay at all close in the race. This may very well determine what direction the rest of the season is going to go.

On Deck

Chicago limps home to begin a three-game series with the aforementioned Reds at 1:20pm CT. Javier Assad is on the hill against Graham Ashcraft in a matchup airing on Marquee and 670 The Score.