MILWAUKEE — How rough was the first inning of the Cubs’ 9-1 loss to the Brewers on Saturday?
Three Cubs up, three Cubs down swinging — whiff, whiff, whiff — against impressive lefty Eric Lauer in the top of the frame. And that was the encouraging part.
In a painful bottom of the frame, third baseman Patrick Wisdom played leadoff man Andrew McCutchen’s gounder into an error. With one out, center fielder Michael Hermosillo booted a Christian Yelich base hit, allowing runners to move up to second and third on another error. Hunter Renfroe followed with an RBI squibber along the first-base line that Cubs starter Justin Steele was unable to wrangle, more bad luck than anything.