Enhanced Box Score: Brewers 10, Cubs 6 – May 29, 2024 – Bleacher Nation

Why did it have to be the Brewers that were the first team to blow him up? It yields an especially sickening feeling.

Shōta Imanaga was not sharp (for the first time in his MLB introduction), and the Brewers did not let him get away with any mistakes. People are going to talk about “rust” – the Cubs gave Imanaga 10 days between starts – and maybe there’s something to that. It’s also just possible that an outing like this was always coming. No pitcher can be THAT good every single time out, and at least SOME of the time that you’re not at your best, the other club is going to get good wood on the mistakes.

Kyle Hendricks followed to eat some innings, and it was looking OK for five batters, and then it came off the rails a bit. It makes me sad to think about right now. At least he saved the bullpen, I guess.

Offensively, the Cubs showed some more life tonight, though they missed out on some possibly very big spots. They also continue to be burned by moments where really good contact is finding a dang glove. Christopher Morel had multiple rockets, including a 405-foot shot that got robbed (hat tip). Dansby Swanson sent one that I thought was a grand slam – I stood up and everything – but it was caught at the wall. (Hey, that’s six runs right there! Cubs win the what-if game!)

Since I refuse to give the Ankin Law “Making It Personal” Player of the Game nod to a Brewers player tonight, I’ll go with Ian Happ on the strength of his homer, single, and sac fly. Two-hit nights for each of the top three in the order, too.

Full box score.