Brewers-Cubs: Dave Bush Deserved a Better Fate

Dave Bush showed Saturday night against the Cubs that his performance in the second half of 2008 was no fluke.

Bush went out and held the Cubs in check. He picked up a quality start but unfortunately, the Brewers bullpen let him down and the Brewers took the loss 6-5 at Miller Park. Bush went 6 1/3 innings and gave up only three runs to a powerful Cubs offense. He allowed six hits, struck out five and allowed a home run to Fukudome.

Bush departed in the seventh with the bases loaded but holding a 3-2 lead. Mark DiFelice came on in relief and actually made the pitch to get out of the inning, however the first base umpire made an incorrect call on a double play ball that allowed the Cubs to tie the game.

The Brewers rallied in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead, 5-3, on a JJ Hardy two-run single. DiFelice gave up a home run to Aramis Ramirez in the eighth to make it a one-run affair. Todd Coffey came on and closed out the inning. 

The Brewers were unable to add any insurance runs in the bottom of the inning and the Cubs would make the Crew pay.

Carlos Villanueva came on in the ninth to try and pick up his second save of the year but Alfonso Soriano had other ideas. After Villanueva gave up a pinch-hit to Reed Johnson, Soriano jumped on a first-pitch fastball and launched it deep into left field. The Cubs took the lead and Miller Park began to sound a bit like Wrigley North.

Carlos Marmol replaced Kevin Gregg as the Cubs closer and allowed a one out hit to Corey Hart. Marmol proceeded to dominate both Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder and sent the team's top two sluggers down on strikes to end the game. 

Braun had a rough day going 0-4 with three strikeouts. He's not looking very comfortable at the plate right now. 

Hart, Fielder, and backup catcher Mike Rivera each had two hits on the night. Fielder hit his first home run of the season in the third inning. Rivera carried over his solid 2008 and still found a way to produce despite limited playing time. 

Dave Bush needs to stay positive after a disappointing end to a good night for him personally. If he can continue to pitch this well all season, the Brewers should easily be in contention for the division. 

Jeff Suppan will take the mound for the Brewers on Easter Sunday to try and win the series for the Crew. Suppan will no doubt look to have a much better outing than he had in San Francisco on Opening Day.