Jun 28, 2026 10:33 AM
Updated Jun 28, 2026 4:56 PM
A sixth-inning collapse fueled by two-out walks saw the bullpen crumble against the Chicago Cubs, leaving Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy questioning the reliability of his struggling reliever during a grueling schedule.
Kyle Harrison got through five solid innings for the Milwaukee Brewers, but the Chicago Cubs broke open a 2-2 game in the sixth inning.
After taking game one, 6-2, Milwaukee fell the very next night, 8-2.
This team's bullpen is going to be taxed with a span of 18 games in 17 days, and that's not a good sign knowing how things went down on Saturday, June 27.
Chad Patrick's struggles continued as he surrendered four runs in the sixth inning. Ultimately, he threw 30 pitches and recorded just two outs.
What Happened to Chad Patrick?
Pitching in Las Vegas absolutely broke the 27-year-old, whether that was physically, mentally, or both. Brewers manager Pat Murphy didn't hold back on Patrick's performance not just in this one, but specifically over his last six games where he's allowed a run in all but one of those appearances.
"Chad Patrick’s been very inconsistent, and we’ll take a hard look at that," Murphy said, according to MLB.com. "He’s been an overachiever and I believe in him in the biggest way, and I feel for him right now that he can’t get on track. I’m certain he’ll be back, I’m certain he’ll be back in top form, is what I mean. I’m certain of that.”
Murphy made sure to clarify his remarks as he didn't want it sounding like Milwaukee was going to use an option on Patrick, at least not at this point in the season. Only time will tell, but his ERA has gone up from 2.22 to 3.90 in the span of 19 days.
Two-out walks were brutal, and Patrick allowed a pair of those in the sixth. He wasn't the only Brewers reliever to give up runs, but that doesn't excuse the fact that his downfall is what caused things to spiral.
The two-time National League Manager of the Year added, "He's been so good for us. Guys, remember that. He's been so good for us, so clutch for us, that when you have hiccups, just like Megill early on, if you believe in the player and you believe in the stuff... The stuff I saw tonight, it's two quick outs, he's got two strikes, and he loses his head a little bit. I don't think it's a matter of stuff. I think he'll be back on it."
Brewers Silent Night at the Plate
Milwaukee fell to 50-30 on the year as they mustered up just five hits. Jackson Chourio may have homered on the first pitch he saw, but after that the team didn't have much to offer. In fact, Sal Frelick's RBI single in the fifth inning was the team's final hit of the game.
Brandon Woodruff is set to take the mound in the rubber match, one that could see the Cubs get within five and a half games on Milwaukee in the NL Central.
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