Cubs suffer tough loss to Brewers but breathe a sigh of relief after Javy Baez's injury

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MILWAUKEE - The Cubs may be going back to the hotel Friday night with a loss to the rebuilding Brewers, but all things considered, it could've been a lot worse.

Cubs nation held its collective breath as Javy Baez and Jason Heyward collided in shallow center field in the sixth inning. Heyward stayed in the game, but Baez had to be removed with a contusion above his left eye.

This came on the one-year anniversary of Kyle Schwarber blowing out his knee in Arizona at the start of last season, so the 2-1 loss in 11 innings is something of an afterthought when weighed against the Cubs' overall health.

Ben Zobrist gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead with a solo homer in the second inning, but that was all the offense they mustered on the night behind Brett Anderson making his Cubs debut.

Anderson lasted 5.2 innings, allowing only one run coming on a single through the infield one batter before Hernan Perez's bloop fell between Baez and Heyward as they collided. 

The Cubs bullpen held things even until the bottom of the 11th when Mike Montgomery threw a wild pitch past catcher Willson Contreras with the bases loaded. Montgomery now has both Cubs losses on the season.

The Cubs offense struggled on the night managing only four other hits - all singles - apart from Zobrist's homer. They also struck out 12 times against starter Jimmy Nelson and five Brewers relievers.

Jon Jay ignited a Cubs rally in the 10th when he led off with a single before Kyle Schwarber's strikeout. Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo followed with back-to-back walks, but Zobrist bounced into an inning-ending, rally-killing double play.

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