The Brewers and Cubs were delayed by rain to start (44 minutes) and again in the 3rd inning (50 minutes), and if that wasn't enough, the two teams played an extra inning. In the end, the Brewers pulled out a 4-3 win over the Cubs in 10 innings.
The Brewers took a 3-to-nothing lead into the bottom of the 9th, but new closer Eric Gagne blew his first save opportunity with his new team, putting two men on and then surrendering a 3-run homer to Kosuke Fukudome. Fukudome finished 3 for 3 with a walk for the Cubs.
Following the home run, Gagne retired the Cubs and Milwaukee went right back to work in the 10th.
Craig Counsell opened the extra frame with a double off of Cubs right hander Bob Howry and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. After Ricky Weeks was hit by a pitch for the second time, Tony Gwynn Jr. delivered the go-ahead sacrifice fly. David Riske then worked the bottom of the 10th to earn his first save as a Brewer.
Ben Sheets and Carlos Zambrano were near perfect, both pitching shutout baseball and both pitching deep into the game, even with the 50 minute rain delay. Zambrano allowed three hits in 6 2/3 innings before leaving with a finger injury. Sheets gave up two hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out 7 and walked only 2.
The Brewers and Cubs are off today and play game two of their three game series on Wednesday afternoon.
The Brewers got their first three runs on a Ryan Braun RBI single and Corey Hart's 2-run double.
Listen / Download – Ned Yost says his team has grown from last year. :13
Listen / Download – Ned Yost says both starters were phenominal. :18