Ian Happ gets 3 hits as Cubs beat Brewers on opening day
CHICAGO (CBS/AP) — Ian Happ had three hits, including a tiebreaking two-run double in the seventh inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-4 on Thursday on opening day.
Nico Hoerner hit the majors' first homer of 2022 and Kyle Hendricks pitched neatly into the sixth as he struck out seven, leading Chicago to the victory on a chilly, overcast afternoon at Wrigley Field. Japanese outfielder Seiya Suzuki reached three times and scored in his first big league game.
On a day stuffed full of firsts and debuts, Milwaukee ace Corbin Burnes and catcher Omar Narváez became the first battery to use baseball's new electronic pitch-calling system in a regular-season game. The 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner allowed three runs and four hits in five innings.
Suzuki singled in the fifth for his first big league hit and walked twice. The 27-year-old finalized an $85 million, five-year contract with Chicago in March in the Cubs' biggest move of the offseason.
Andrew McCutchen, Willy Adames and Rowdy Tellez each had two hits for Milwaukee, and Lorenzo Cain drove in two runs. McCutchen served as the designated hitter in his first game with his new team after agreeing to a one-year deal last month.
The Brewers erased a 3-1 deficit with two runs in the seventh, but the Cubs went ahead to stay in the bottom half.
With runners on the corners and two outs, Happ hit a drive off Jake Cousins that caromed off the wall in center. Clint Frazier and Willson Contreras scored on Happ's second double of the day.
The reigning NL Central champions got one back on Cain's sacrifice fly in the eighth, but David Robertson worked the ninth for his first save since 2018 and No. 138 for his career.
Aaron Ashby (0-1) got the loss. He was charged with one run and three hits in 1 2/3 innings.
Making his third consecutive opening-day start, Hendricks permitted one run and three hits in 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander, who had a career-high 4.77 ERA last year, struck out seven and walked three.
Chris Martin (1-0) got two outs for the win in his Cubs debut.
The Brewers jumped in front when McCutchen singled and scored the majors' first run on Cain's groundout in the fourth. But the Cubs responded with three in the fifth.
Patrick Wisdom hit a sacrifice fly before Hoerner drove a 1-1 pitch from Burnes into the bleachers in left for a tiebreaking two-run shot. It was Hoerner's first big league homer since Sept. 21, 2019, against St. Louis.
Hoerner was quite pleased to provide the pop.
"It was not exactly on the front of my mind through like when I wake up and go to work or anything like that, but of course, everyone wants to hit more home runs," Hoerner said. "And it's a part of what I can do. It's something I can't force, but it'll happen over time."
David Ross with a BIG smile on his face talking about Nico Hoerner’s home run and the #Cubs opening day win @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/8Vn1VAgEGD
— Matt Zahn (@mattzahnsports) April 7, 2022
Hendricks said Opening Day Thursday was an awesome day, coming off the worst season of his career.
"A quick spring to get out here – with all the uncertainty, it's just good to be back to normal, playing baseball," Hendricks said. "You see the energy, see all the guys, and it was just a great game all around – you know, grinding out at-bats, making the plays that need to be made, and making big pitches at the right time – so a really fun game today."
"This team's going to figure out its M.O. We're going to figure out who we are. And I think that's a big part of it is kind of starting that from day one," added Happ.
HE'S HERE
Victor Caratini made his Milwaukee debut when he came on to catch Ashby in the bottom of the sixth. Caratini was acquired in a trade with San Diego on Wednesday.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Brewers: INF Luis Urías (left quad strain) and RHP Justin Topa (right forearm flexor strain) were placed on the 10-day injured list. Each IL stint was made retroactive to Monday.
Cubs: RHP Alec Mills (low back strain), LHP Wade Miley (elbow inflammation) and SS Andrelton Simmons (right shoulder inflammation) went on the 10-day IL. Each IL stint was made retroactive to Monday.
UP NEXT
Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff and Cubs left-hander Justin Steele start on Friday afternoon. But there is a wintry mix of precipitation in the forecast. Woodruff went 9-10 with a career-best 2.56 ERA in 30 starts last year. Steele made his big league debut in 2021, going 4-4 with a 4.26 ERA in 20 appearances, including nine starts.