Quintana comes down to earth as Brewers drop third straight game, 6-2

Box Score

Coming into today’s game, Jose Quintana had allowed just three earned runs through his first four starts as a Brewer. He gave up three home runs tonight as the Brewers dropped a second straight game to the NL Central-leading Cubs.

Justin Turner broke a 0-0 tie in the top of the first with an two-out RBI single, scoring leadoff man Ian Happ from second and putting Carson Kelly in scoring position. Thankfully, Quintana got out of the inning by getting Nico Hoerner to ground out to third baseman Caleb Durbin.

Milwaukee managed to tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third. With two outs in the frame, Jackson Chourio legged out a double on a line drive that would have been a single if it hadn’t found the gap in right-center. That brought up Brice Turang, who hit a line drive in almost the same exact spot to score Chourio.

Unfortunately, Chicago only needed one half inning to pull back ahead. After singles by Carson Kelly and Nico Hoerner, Quintana worked Pete Crow-Armstrong to a 3-2 count. Quintana then threw a meatball — an 89 MPH fastball, high in the zone — on the payoff pitch, which Crow-Armstrong deposited into the Cubs’ bullpen. The very next batter, Dansby Swanson, hit a solo shot to bring the score to 5-1. Quintana was able to retire the next two batters, but the damage was done.

Rhys Hoskins got a run back in the bottom of the frame with a solo shot off of Cubs starter Jameson Taillon, but Kyle Tucker immediately got the lead back up to 6-2 with a home run of his own.

Milwaukee went three up, three down in the next three innings. The Cubs didn’t score again either, so the game was still somewhat within reach.

In the bottom of the ninth, Brice Turang, who reached base three times, beat out an infield single to start the inning. Unfortunately, William Contreras immediately hit into a double play, and Christian Yelich grounded out to end the game.

It was the roughest outing of the season for Quintana against what is currently the best offense in baseball. Chicago now leads the league in total runs, runs per game, hits, stolen bases, walks, and total RBIs while ranking second in home runs. Quintana ended up making it five innings, giving up six earned runs and seven hits.

Offensively, Milwaukee only recorded four hits on the day — two from Turang and one each from Hoskins and Chourio. The offense has looked pretty anemic recently with the exceptions of Turang, Hoskins, and occasionally Chourio/Contreras. Turang, who reached base three times today, continues to be a significant bright spot.

With that being said, Milwaukee’s bats should wake up as we get closer to summer. Yelich, Contreras, and Chourio can and will hit better than they have been. Joey Ortiz has been hard to watch at the plate for much of the season. He’s not going to hit .300 or anything, but some positive regression should be due (right?). Last year, Ortiz recorded a 102 OPS+ in his first full major league season. This year, so far? 35.

Today’s loss was admittedly somewhat demoralizing, especially given how dominant our rivals to the south have looked so far this season. Chicago now has three players (Seiya Suzuki, Crow-Armstrong, and Tucker) tied for third in the league in home runs, with nine.

Chicago is better than some of us may have expected, and should give the Brewers a run for their money in the NL Central. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but they also might be due for some regression. Carson Kelly, the same Carson Kelly with a .229 career batting average in his ten year career, is slashing .364/.500/.818 with a 270 (!!) OPS+. For reference, Aaron Judge currently has an OPS+ of 268. Pete Crow-Armstrong’s power surge looks like it could be for real, but he hit ten home runs last year. I’m not a betting man, but I’d be willing to bet he isn’t Aaron Judge either.

The point being: every team, every season, has good stretches and bad stretches. The last few games haven’t been great, but there’s a ton of baseball left to play this season.

Milwaukee will look to get back on the right track starting with tomorrow’s series finale. The Brewers will trot out their ace, Freddy Peralta, in an attempt to avoid the sweep. He’ll be facing off against Japanese lefty Shota Imanaga, who has pitched to the tune of a 2.77 ERA through seven starts this year.

Tomorrow’s game will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin and the Brewers Radio Network, with first pitch scheduled for 1:10 p.m. CT.