Thursday’s Brewers-Cubs game seemed like it could be a low-scoring affair, with aces Brandon Woodruff and Kyle Hendricks on the mound.
Instead, Woodruff exited early, and the Brewers roughed Hendricks and the Cubs bullpen in a 17-4 blowout win to complete a four-game sweep at Wrigley Field.
Here are 10 observations from the game:
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1. Before Thursday, Kyle Hendricks had given up five or more earned runs in only two starts this season. The Brewers tagged him for five in the second inning alone, including three in a three-batter sequence via a triple, double and two-run home run.
2. Hendricks exited after Manny Piña hit a grand slam off him in the fifth. In his four-plus innings, he allowed 11 hits (tied for a season worst) and nine runs (a career worst).
3. Not only was Thursday’s outing one of Hendricks’ worst in recent memory, but it snapped his 16-start streak without a loss. From May 16 to Aug. 6, he went 11-0 with 14 quality starts.
4. Woodruff has dominated the Cubs this season but exited the game after three innings. In four starts against the Cubs this season before Thursday, he held a 0.72 ERA (two runs, 10 hits, 25 innings).
MLB
5. Luis Urías has played less than a full 162-game season with the Brewers but is already a Cubs killer. The infielder went 5-for-6 with three doubles, a solo home run and a three-run home run. He improved to 18-for-50 (.360) with five home runs and 19 RBIs in 15 games vs. the Cubs this season.
6. Milwaukee’s 4-7 hitters teed off. Eduardo Escobar, Urías, Jace Peterson and Piña went a combined 16-for-23 with four doubles, one triple, five home runs and 15 RBIs.
7. Patrick Wisdom hit his 18th home run of the season, extending his lead among National League rookies to five over Cincinnati's Jonathan India.
8. With the game out of reach, infielder Andrew Romine pitched the ninth inning, with brother Austin Romine as his battery mate. Andrew struck out Piña, paired with a good frame by Austin.
9. How lopsided was this series? Milwaukee outscored the Cubs 37-9 in four games — 27-4 between Wednesday and Thursday.
10. The Cubs dropped to 3-13 against the Brewers this season — tied for their most losses against Milwaukee in a single season ever (also 2012 and 2013). With three games left in the season series (Sept. 17-19), a new record could be set.
On deck: The Cubs and Marlins open a three-game series Friday in Miami. First pitch is 6:10 p.m. CT. Adbert Alzolay (4-12, 4.71 ERA) and Jesús Luzardo (3-5, 7.36 ERA) are the probable starters.