Cubs Embrace Challenge After Game 1 Setback Against Brewers
The Chicago Cubs are refusing to succumb to panic following a tough Game 1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Wild Card Round. Bolstered by a strong veteran presence, the team remains confident in its ability to bounce back and advance further in the postseason.
A Tough Start in Milwaukee
After a promising series against the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field, where they clinched two out of three games, the Cubs aimed to carry that momentum into their matchup against the Brewers. However, their aspirations took a significant hit as they faced a brutal 9-3 defeat in the opening game.
Starting pitcher Matthew Boyd, who had shone in Game 1 of the previous series, was tasked with delivering a similar performance against Milwaukee. Unfortunately, Boyd’s outing was cut short; he struggled to find his rhythm, allowing two earned runs before exiting in the first inning. Mike Soroka followed but could not stem the tide, giving up three additional runs. Though Aaron Civale and Ben Brown managed to combine for over six innings of scoreless relief, the damage had already been done. The Cubs found themselves reeling after a six-run first inning and surrendered a total of nine runs in the opening two frames.
Players Rallying Around Each Other
Despite the disappointing loss, Cubs players and coaching staff have expressed unwavering belief in their collective abilities. Second baseman Nico Hoerner, who has been instrumental with clutch hits throughout the postseason, acknowledged the sting of the defeat but emphasized the importance of maintaining focus.
“It stings today. All losses do — especially in the postseason. I don’t think it changes our work tomorrow or for our game on Monday,” Hoerner said. “Obviously we have a little bit of time, which is kind of strange in the middle of all this. But the task remains the same, and the group’s confidence is incredibly high, even though today wasn’t what we wanted.”
Learning from History
The Cubs are no strangers to adversity, having navigated a similar situation in the 2016 World Series when they fell behind 1-0 to the Cleveland Indians. Manager Craig Counsell reflected on the challenge ahead, noting that the loss simply means they need to win three out of four games moving forward.
“We’re down 1-0. Nothing else changes besides that. It’s 1-0. I’m not sure we’d manage the game differently on Monday up 1-0 or down 1-0,” Counsell said. “We made it harder for ourselves. We’ve got to win three out of four now; they’ve got to win two out of four. Other than that, we’ve got to do more. We pitched well for the last six innings. We didn’t pitch well early. That’s it.”
A Champion’s Perspective
Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson brings a wealth of experience from his time with the Atlanta Braves, who overcame a Game 1 loss to the Brewers in the 2021 NL Division Series. Swanson’s confidence in his new team is palpable, and he believes that the Cubs can replicate that success.
“The beauty of this time of year is one loss counts as one loss. I was kind of making the joke to everybody that this is not Champions League. It’s not an aggregate type of situation,” Swanson remarked. “I think it’s an easy way to, kind of like, flush it and move on and be ready for Monday.”
Looking Ahead
The Cubs will have another opportunity to challenge the Brewers on Monday, with Shota Imanaga taking the mound against Milwaukee’s Aaron Ashby. As the team prepares for this crucial game, their resilience and confidence remain unshaken, setting the stage for what promises to be an intense continuation of the series.
