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Adbert Alzolay impresses before a 6-run 6th inning, while the Chicago Cubs offense sputters again in a 6-3 loss — their 5th in 6 games

meghan montemurro, chicago tribune
·4 min read

Chicago Cubs right-hander Adbert Alzolay spent five innings dismantling the Milwaukee Brewers lineup Monday night at American Family Field.

Alzolay faced the minimum through five, the lone blemish coming on a single in the second that was erased with an inning-ending double play. The Brewers finally got to Alzolay in the sixth and loaded the bases with nobody out. After a forceout at the plate, Cubs manager David Ross turned to left-hander Andrew Chafin, a dominant weapon out of the bullpen two weeks into the season.

Pinch hitter Luis Urias sent his first pitch down the left-field line for a bases-clearing double to put the Brewers ahead 3-1, and the game got away from there for the Cubs in a 6-3 loss, their third consecutive and fifth in six games.

The Brewers batted around in the sixth, sending 11 to the plate in the six-run inning. Kris Bryant’s leadoff home run in the fourth was his third homer of the season. Willson Contreras’ single in the third was the Cubs’ only other hit until the ninth.

The Cubs offense remains problematic. They’ve been held to six runs during the three-game skid. Their ninth-inning rally fell short. With one out, Bryant singled, Joc Pederson walked and Javier Báez doubled them in. The Brewers brought in closer Josh Hader to get the last two outs.

“It feels like we are very homer-dependent right now,” Ross said. “I understand that’s part of our M.O. and how our team is built, but we’ve got to find ways to put the ball in play, put the pressure on the defense to make things happen and spark something because we’re going to have to put up more.”

The offense will continue to warrant scrutiny until it capitalizes on walks and working counts, let alone do it consistently. But this season is about more than short-term goals. The Cubs need to see their next wave of organizational talent take a step forward. Alzolay, 26, is a key piece.

Regardless of what path the Cubs ultimately take — trade away their most valuable assets or become buyers at the July 31 deadline — they need Alzolay to develop as a big-league starting pitcher this season. His progress will affect their success in 2022 and beyond as much as any other roster moves they could make this season.

Starts like Monday’s provide a glimpse of what Alzolay can be.

“I thought, this is who he thinks he is, who he believes he is,” Ross said. “This is a really good version of him we saw tonight. That’s what we expect. He was dominant, executing fastball command with the slider off that. I just thought he looked really clean tonight, and that was nice to see.”

Alzolay was pumped to pitch into the sixth. He admitted he got a little tired during the inning but knows he can build from that experience.

“To be honest, my anxiety was through the roof at that moment because, to be honest, I don’t even remember the last time that I was out there as a starting pitcher in the sixth inning,” Alzolay said. “For me was a huge step forward right now that I was able to keep my pitch count down, have the opportunity to go out there for the sixth inning.”

Alzolay was prepared to try to get out of the bases-loaded jam but understands why Ross pulled him. Although Alzolay’s pitch count was still manageable at 68 when Ross went to Chafin, the rookie was about to face the Brewers lineup for a third time.

Ross identified left-handed hitter Daniel Vogelbach in the No. 2 spot, where he could potentially get a lefty-lefty matchup with Chafin. He knew Brewers manager Craig Counsell could pinch-hit for Vogelbach, which he did with Urias, but Ross liked Chafin in that spot over Alzolay anyway.

Monday was another valuable experience for Alzolay, whose 5⅓ innings represent a big-league career high. His aggressive approach to attacking the Brewers hitters and executing strikes paid off.

“When you get ahead in the count, then you’ve got so many options, you’ve got so many things that you can do,” Alzolay said.