Cubs designated hitter Patrick Wisdom delivers late and gives good first impression at DH.
Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty
The Cubs were reeling after a four-run seventh inning by the Brewers left them clinging to a one-run lead in the eighth.
After first baseman Michael Busch tripled on a line drive, designated hitter Patrick Wisdom, who had already homered, singled to center to bring Busch home. That run proved to be the difference in the Cubs’ 6-5 win over the Brewers.
“The at-bat in the eighth inning was a great at-bat,” manager Craig Counsell said. “Credit to him, obviously the homer’s a great swing but that [single] turned out to be a huge run and a really good at-bat.”
After falling behind 0-2, Wisdom battled back to a 2-2 count. He fouled off three pitches in total before connecting on a four-seam fastball near the top of the zone.
“Electric fastball; he’s [Brewers reliever Bryan Hudson] got good extension on it,” Wisdom said of the at-bat. “So it kind of feels like he’s releasing it halfway to home plate so it gets on here pretty quick. So I just shortened up the swing and wanted to put something in the middle of the field and I was able to put the bat on the ball there.”
The Cubs offense showed some signs of life after struggling over the past two weeks.
Third baseman Christopher Morel hit his fourth home run in six games, a two-run, 430-foot bomb. Second baseman Nico Hoerner also launched his first home run of the season. The offense did well to give starter Jameson Taillon some run support.
“Our offense has been a little quiet lately,” Counsell said. “So, Chris just one swing of the bat putting runs on the board quick. Christopher’s in a stretch right now; the homers I think for most guys come in bunches, and he’s had a good week.”
The Cubs have won three of their last eight games. They needed this win as they finish out a 16-game stretch in as many days.
Offensively, the Cubs were aggressive in the zone and limited the amount of chase. They pounced on Brewers pitcher Tobias Myers, who has given up five home runs in his first three starts.
As right fielder Seiya Suzuki and center fielder Cody Bellinger near their returns, the offense had to have a game where they put the ball in the air and get runs across.
“That’s two impact bats, two impact players,” Wisdom said. “They do well on the field and on the bases. Coming back is only going to help us and they’re great dudes.”
On Saturday the Cubs put together solid at-bats and put the ball in the air. Wisdom was also active on the bases, getting his second stolen base of the season.
Counsell said pregame that the Cubs are searching for offense, which played a role in designated hitter Matt Mervis being optioned to Triple-A Iowa. With an open spot at DH, Counsell said Wisdom will get a shot, and he’s certainly made a good first impression.
The Cubs didn’t have an explosive inning, but they forced Myers to throw 62 pitches in three innings. The hitters were selective and pounced when he threw a pitch they liked. They’ll need to keep that approach regardless of when Bellinger and Suzuki return.
“We’re not getting those big innings that we usually get,” Wisdom told the Sun-Times pregame. “Getting a lot of traffic on bases comes with the nature of the game. If we just stay true to who we are, stay in that consistent mindset and not try to force it, things are going to start rolling our way.”