Morning Marquee: Dan Haren earns first win as a Cub in 6-3 victory over the Brewers

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Cubs extend winning streak to five-games

Last night the Chicago Cubs were able to extend their winning streak to five games after wearing out and defeating the last-place Milwaukee Brewers by the final score of 6-3 behind a quality outing by recently acquired right-hander, Dan Haren.

Haren (8-7, 3.55 ERA) stumbled in his Cub debut just a week ago while visiting the Pittsburgh Pirates but was able to find his footing in yesterday’s win. He held the Brewers (48-66) to three earned runs on five hits on top of issuing only one walk and recording six strikeouts.

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First baseman Adam Lind cut Chicago’s (63-48) lead to three with a two-run shot to right-center field to make it 6-3 during the top half of the sixth inning. Lind nearly took Haren deep earlier in the game but settled for a long double to center fielder Dexter Fowler in the fourth.

He would come across to score for Milwaukee’s first run of the ballgame on an RBI single by Elian Herrera two batters later.

The key to this victory was being able to make opposing pitcher’s earn their paycheck. Joe Maddon‘s red-hot club had eight men go to the plate in just the second inning with young right-hander Taylor Jungmann on the mound.

Shortly after Anthony Rizzo struck out in the second, Kris Bryant doubled on a bizarre play in left. Khris Davis made a diving trap play but didn’t realize where the ball was until it fell out of his glove.

Outfielder Jorge Soler extended his hitting streak to eight games on an RBI single to Logan Schafer to score Bryant to put the Cubs out in front 1-0 and get this offense going. Haren stepped into the batter’s box with the runners on the corners and one out following a single to left by catcher Miguel Montero.

Haren would reach on a fielder’s choice when Jungmann attempted to make a play on Soler who was charging into home plate. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy was unable to hang onto the ball while applying the tag on Soler who was ruled safe by the home plate umpire.

Fowler later extended the lead to 3-0 on a sacrifice fly to score Montero from third.

Rizzo ended up finishing the game 2-for-3 with an RBI double, walk and hit by pitch later on in the game. He and Russell were hit somewhere close to their wrists but ended up staying in the game.

Infielder Starlin Castro made his first major league appearance at second base as a replacement for Chris Coghlan who picked up the start. Castro made a diving attempt on a ground ball to his right but was unable to make a clean throw to Rizzo at first.

He followed that up with a beautiful play in the ninth. Herrera lifted a towering fly ball to foul territory to right field and looked as if it was going to drop in the bullpen.

Castro kept the ball in his sights and was able to get his glove under it to make the play before losing his footing. After the game, Rizzo said in a postgame interview that Starlin looked like a natural.

Here’s more from around the league:

‘Chicago Cubs not giving up on Castro just yet‘ – Cubbies Crib

‘Blue Jays stock to watch: Brett Cecil back on track‘ – Jays Journal

‘St. Louis Cardinals: Jason Heyward crucial for future‘ – Call To The Pen

‘Pittsburgh Pirates wake-up call – a frustrating loss‘ – Rum Bunter

‘Cubs: Can Starlin Castro find a role to fill?‘ – Cubbies Crib

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