Garza Takes Second Loss As A Cub
The Chicago Cubs were shutout Saturday night by the Milwaukee Brewers. For the second time as a Cub, Matt Garza started and took a loss. Milwaukee scored four runs in the first three innings before beating the Cubs 6-0.
Prince Fielder drove in four runs with a career-high three doubles, Chris Narveson pitched seven shutout innings and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs 6-0 on Saturday night.
Narveson (1-0) struck out nine and ran his scoreless streak to 13 innings over his first two starts after working out of trouble multiple times.
Fielder doubled in his first three at-bats in the first, third and fifth innings against Matt Garza (0-1) as Milwaukee built a 5-0 lead.
Ryan Braun scored three runs and drove in another, and Nyjer Morgan continued his strong play since being acquired from Washington. He tripled, scored, walked with the bases loaded and made a leaping catch near the wall to keep Alfonso Soriano from an extra-base hit.
Fielder started the season 3 for 17 without driving in a run in Milwaukee's first five games. The last four, he's 8 for 14 with a homer and nine RBIs, and has been the biggest reason the Brewers have quickly forgotten their 0-4 start.
Braun doubled to bring in Rickie Weeks in the first and scored himself on Fielder's first double. In the third, Morgan tripled and Braun walked before Fielder brought them both home with his second extra-base hit. Fielder's third double came with two outs in fifth after Braun had singled to make it 5-0.
Cubs reliever Jeff Samardzija walked Morgan with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth for the final margin.
Narveson, who struggled in the first inning all last year, got the first two Cubs to begin his start before running into his toughest situation of the night.
He allowed a double to Marlon Byrd, then struck out Aramis Ramirez on a wild pitch that allowed Ramirez to reach first without a throw. After a walk to Geovany Soto to load the bases, he struck out Carlos Pena to end the inning.
Milwaukee's defense also made several key plays to support the 29-year-old left-hander.
In the second, Morgan made a leaping catch of Soriano's leadoff shot to left-center field and strong plays ended the fourth and fifth innings with multiple runners on base. Soriano hit into a double play in the fourth and Braun ran down a shallow fly ball from Byrd in left field to end the fifth.
Chicago finished 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position.
Garza struggled after striking out 12 and allowing 12 singles in a no-decision against Pittsburgh in first start. He struck out eight, but allowed eight hits and three walks, leaving with the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth.
Reliever John Grabow kept Milwaukee from tacking on any more runs, but Narveson had more than enough support by then from Fielder's efforts.
NOTES: Brewers LHP Manny Parra (back) threw two perfect innings at Class-A Wisconsin in a rehab start. ... The Brewers expect C Jonathan Lucroy (pinkie) to return on next week's road trip after a stint in Double-A Huntsville. ... Brewers RHP Zack Greinke (rib) threw his second bullpen session Saturday and reported no pain. ... Chicago had been 3-0 against left-handed starters this year. ... With 42,478 fans, Miller Park surpassed 25 million total since opening in 2001.
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