Chicago Cubs get handed sixth-straight loss by the Milwaukee Brewers

Jose Quintana lasted just three innings, allowing eight runs as the Chicago Cubs dropped a slugfest against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park Friday night.

More often than not, when your offense hangs a double-digit number in the runs column, you win a ballgame. But that was not the case for the Chicago Cubs on Friday night as the pitching once again looked downright awful in a 13-10 loss to the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers.

Chicago (1-6) dug themselves an early hole, with Milwaukee scoring 8-0 after just three innings. Jose Quintana, who has been especially effective against the Brewers over the last two years, got absolutely rocked in this one. The left-hander lasted just three innings, allowing eight hits, three of which left the yard, a trio of walks and, as mentioned, eight earned runs.

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Five Cubs relievers handled the final five innings, with Carl Edwards Jr. once again struggling, allowing a long ball in just two-thirds of an inning of work. Brandon Kintzler, who had been one of the rare bright spots in the pen, got tagged for three runs on four hits late. Really, it was just more of the same for a Chicago team that simply looks lost on the mound.

The Cubs rank dead last in Major League Baseball in earned run average (7.85), WHIP (2.11) and opponent batting average (.321). On the flip side, the offense leads baseball with a .307 batting average and fifth in runs per game.

All offseason, we looked at the bullpen as a weak spot on this roster, but I don’t know if anyone envisioned anything quite as bad as this. Payroll limitations and past free agent contracts cost the front office dearly and more than a few fans feel Theo Epstein and the Cubs’ brass are reaping what they’ve sown so far this season.

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