Chicago Cubs News: Suter outduels Quintana in Brewers win

The Chicago Cubs were guaranteed to come into Saturday alone in first place. But a 2-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers and Brent Suter made it a little more interesting. Javier Baez finally ended his slump with a long home run, but it wasn’t enough to support Jose Quintana.

The Chicago Cubs looked to Jose Quintana to keep things rolling for them in Milwaukee. They, unfortunately, ran into Brent Suter who looked like an ace as he threw seven innings of shutout ball against them. Jason Hayward made a spectacular play on what would have been a Ryan Braun home run, but the Cubs struggled to manufacture any runs of their own as a Javier Baez home run was all they could muster.

The Cubs’ Willson Contreras plays with a fire behind the plate that many catchers lack. And now those numbers he’s putting up are starting to separate themselves as well. Contreras has become the Cubs leadoff hitter, not because of Joe Maddon‘s lineup tinkering, but because it’s a spot he’s earned. It’s been a short time in the majors for Contreras, but he’s quickly making a name for himself.

Ben Zobrist‘s patience has been a big part of the Cubs lineup at the top, and it showed with him not in the leadoff spot on Friday. The Cubs put up just one run in the game on a Baez home run and weren’t able to manufacture another run. Zobrist’s ability to take pitches and avoid the strike out has been a key to the team at the top of the order.

These and other stories you might have missed:

‘Cubs fall short in 2-1 loss to Brewers’ – Cubbies Crib

‘Contreras has quietly produced excellent numbers’ – Cubbies Crib

‘Zobrist’s patience looms large for the Cubs’ – Cubbies Crib

‘World Series title cause baby boom’ – Cubbies Crib

‘Verlander, Cubs rumors won’t go away’ – Cubbies Crib

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