Brewers 4, Cubs 3

At Wrigley Field, Chicago

Monday, March 31

Cubs at the plate

The Cubs' bats were as frigid as the weather outside early, mustering only two hits through eight innings, both by newcomer Kosuke Fukudome, who also drew a walk. In the seventh, Fukudome showed that he will fit in nicely as a Cub, promptly getting picked off second base to kill a rally, bringing back haunting memories of Jacque Jones. All was forgotten two innings later, when he proved himself very un-Cub-like by tying the game with a three-run homer to center field to send the game into extra innings.

Cubs on the mound

Carlos Zambrano, who once again apparently forgot to hydrate before the game, did give the Cubs 6.2 solid shutout innings before leaving in the seventh with the ever present forearm cramps that have plagued him in the past. Should-be-closer Carlos Marmol struck out three of four batters he faced before turning the game over to actual closer Kerry Wood, with score tied at zero in the ninth. Wood proceeded to drill the first batter he faced, leading to a three-run inning for Milwaukee. After Fukudome's heroics, Bobby Howry--who doesn't figure out how to pitch until the All-Star break--had his typical early season woes, giving up a run to take the loss.

Brewers at the plate

Had little success against Zambrano and Marmol before breaking through against Kid K and Bad Bob late in the game. Tony Gwynn Jr. did a good impersonation of his Hall of Fame father--albeit 60 lbs. lighter--by going two-for-three at the plate including the go-ahead sacrifice fly in the 10th.

Brewers on the mound

Cub-killer Ben Sheets was lights out again, striking out seven over 6.1 shutout innings. New Milwaukee closer, Eric Gagne, showed the Brewers why they wasted $10 million on a washed-up steroid user, as he blew a 3-0 ninth inning lead while at the same time immortalizing Fukudome into Cubs lore after one game on the North Side.

Next up for the Cubs

Following an off day Tuesday, Ted Lilly--last seen firing his glove to the ground in Arizona during the playoffs, a la Tanner Boyle in the Bad News Bears--will take the bump for Chicago in game two against Milwaukee at the Friendly Confines, Wednesday, hoping not to duplicate his last Spring Training outing where he gave up three home runs.

Quote of the game

"#%&#@#  $^&%!" - (translated: "This weather suck! This team suck!" 

– Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome

Number of the game: 10

Combined at-bats without a hit or walk for Cubs leadoff man Ryan Theriot and No. 2 hitter Alfonso Soriano, who flip-flopped spots in the batting order late in Spring Training. 

By Jeremy Barewin