Brewers’ offensive onslaught just enough in 9-7 victory over Cubs

The Brewers defeated the Cubs today 9-7 behind a barrage of home runs. Milwaukee started the game by absolutely shelling Justin Steele, the Cubs’ 2024 Opening Day starter. The Crew put up five runs in the first alone behind homers from Rhys Hoskins and Vinny Capra.

Capra and Hoskins are still tied for the most home runs among Brewers with five each — also good for a tie for the Cactus League lead (though Trayce Thompson of the Red Sox leads the majors with six homers in the Grapefruit League). No other Brewer has more than two this spring. Capra also now has twice as many RBIs (12) as anyone else on the spring training roster, making a strong case that he should start the season in Milwaukee.

In the bottom of the first, it was more of the same for starter Jacob Misiorowski. Mis has been great when he isn’t walking batters and pretty bad when he is. He walked two of the first three batters before giving up a run on a wild pitch, a second run on a single by Michael Busch, and a third on a double by Matt Shaw. After the double, Misiorowski was pulled in favor of Garrett Stallings, who immediately gave up another RBI double. Just like that, it was 5-4.

Misiorowski would come back in for the second inning and seemed to settle in a bit, giving up a single before retiring the next three batters. I’d love to see more consistency from Misiorowski, who — as I’ve said basically every time I’ve written about him — has great stuff and a ridiculously high ceiling. His ERA this spring now sits at 9.39.

The Cubs got two more runs in the third inning and another in the eighth, but home runs by Jake Bauers and Oliver Dunn helped make it 9-7 going into the bottom of the ninth. Sam McWilliams gave up a double and a walk to start the frame before striking out the next three batters. McWilliams (1.35 ERA, 10.8 K/9), who’s on a minor league contract, has looked great this spring. He might end up being the next Brewers’ pitching lab success story.

Top performers today included Oliver Dunn (2-for-3, HR, BB), Jake Bauers (2-for-4, HR, 2B, 2 RBI), and Capra (1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB). Every Brewers starter recorded a hit today, but only Dunn and Bauers had more than one.

The Brewers have the day off tomorrow before their next game against the White Sox on Thursday. First pitch is at 3:05 p.m. CT.