Chicago Cubs News: Cubs survive extra innings in Milwaukee to end skid

Late Wednesday evening, the Chicago Cubs were in danger of losing their third consecutive game for the first time this year. They rallied late, tying the game up at one apiece in the ninth and took Game 2 into extra innings.

It wasn’t pretty but we’ll take it, right? The offense has been silenced at the hands of Gerrit Cole, Chase Anderson and now Jimmy Nelson of the Milwaukee Brewers who pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings of baseball before picking up the no-decision.

Chicago Cubs right-hander John Lackey was the only starter who surrendered a run as the Brewers managed to push one across the plate during the home half of the fifth inning. Alex Presley grounded into a force out allowing Kirk Nieuwenhuis to score.

Lackey helped the Brewers to four hits, one earned run, two walks, and five strikeouts but had plenty of missed calls thanks to the umpire behind the dish. We all know that this happens but Lackey found himself staring down the man calling balls and strikes late in the game.

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Now, a key player in this game is another veteran, David Ross who made several defensive plays that could have resulted in more runs. Ross picked off Jonathan Lucroy at second base while catching Presley, Jonathan Villar, and Scooter Gennett stealing.

Skipper Joe Maddon made a few defensive changes later on in the game, replacing Ross with Miguel Montero and first baseman Anthony Rizzo with Javier Baez. Rizzo was hit by a pitch in the ninth.

Second baseman Ben Zobrist kept things going with a single to right field with no outs, opening the door for third baseman Tommy La Stella who has swung a hot bat for the Chicago Cubs to begin the season.

After La Stella moved the runners over to second and third, shortstop Addison Russell tallied the game-tying run by grounding out to Gennett. Chicago was unable to score another run and would not do so until the 13th inning.

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Southpaw Travis Wood entered the game in the 12th, replacing closer Hector Rondon who exited with two on and no outs. Wood walked the first batter he would face, loading the bases up with nothing but Brewers.

He somehow found his way out of it by getting three consecutive hitters to pop out. Also, he worked a bases-loaded walk of his own, picking up an RBI and putting himself in line for the victory.

Chicago has the opportunity to claim yet another series when Jason Hammel takes the mound later on this afternoon.