Chad Patrick's struggles continue as Cubs run away from Brewers late, 8-2

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Chad Patrick's struggles continue as Cubs run away from Brewers late, 8-2

Curt Hogg, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel · Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Sat, Jun 27, 2026 ·

6 min read

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At 50-30 and 6½ games up in the National League Central division, the Milwaukee Brewers do not have many problems.

This, however, is one of the few they do have: The bullpen beyond the top three isn't getting the job done. And at the beginning of a stretch of 18 games in 17 days, that might spell trouble.

Chad Patrick ran into trouble again in a four-run inning that swung the tides in the Chicago Cubs ' favor as they defeated the Milwaukee Brewers , 8-2, at American Family Field on June 27.

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While the Brewers' 'A' bullpen of Aaron Ashby , Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe remains in the realm of trust for manager Pat Murphy, the concern is that the list ends there.

Patrick allowed a three-run home run to Ian Happ that broke the game open in the top of the sixth Saturday, capping yet another troubling outing. Patrick has now been scored upon in five of his last six outings with multiple runs landing on his ledger in four of those outings.

"Chad Patrick's been very inconsistent," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. "We'll take a hard look at that. 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 and back in top form, is what I mean. I'm certain."

The options beyond Patrick don't sit much better with Murphy right now, either. Grant Anderson allowed a run – and it would have been more if not for an out at the plate on a relay from the outfield – as his struggles continue. Joel Kuhnel , who allowed a tape-measure homer in the ninth to Michael Conforto , has a WHIP with Milwaukee that nearly begins with a two.

More: Brewers giving away T-shirt recognizing Miz's 15 strikeouts vs. Phillies

It was, Murphy admitted prior to the game June 27, a poor aftertaste from the secondary relievers' showing in the previous game that made him go with Megill in a non-save situation in the opener against the Cubs.

"It was so bad I had back surgery the next day," Murphy joked of the bullpen's performance in a 6-5 victory June 25.

Perhaps the return of a healthy Jared Koenig could shift some of the feeling around the second tier of the Brewers bullpen, but the message seems clear. The Brewers, come July, will be scouring the market in search of multiple relief arms.

"A game like this will challenge your thinking sometimes there," Murphy said.

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Check out the completed Brewers Bob Uecker mural in downtown Milwaukee

The completed 80-foot by 100-foot mural of Milwaukee Brewers play-by-play announcer Bob Uecker covers the Wintrust Financial Center 731 N. Jackson St. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 26, 2026. A tailgate-themed celebration has been set to mark the completion of “Mr. Baseball,” by Mauricio Ramirez on June 30 featuring brats and the distribution of 500 cans of Miller Lite for a celebratory toast.

(Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Disastrous sixth for Chad Patrick

Patrick got the first two outs in the sixth.

He didn't get any more.

Everything fell apart in a hurry on Patrick as an implosion turned it from a tie game to a four-run deficit, capped by Happ's three-run homer to right.

The trouble began, as it so often does, with walks. Patrick got to two strikes on Alex Bregman and Michael Busch but walked them both before allowing an RBI single, also with two strikes, to Nico Hoerner .

"Walks," was the first thing Murphy pointed to about Patrick's struggles. "He walks people and then he feels like he's got to throw it in the middle of the plate."

Jun 27, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitching coach Chris Hook (84) talks with Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Chad Patrick (39) and catcher William Contreras (24) in the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

Happ followed with the back-breaking blow, a 106.4 mph rocket to the bleachers in right that gave Chicago a 6-2 lead.

From one strike away and a clean inning to a four-run outburst, the debacle perfectly encapsulated Patrick's run of late. After not allowing a single run over his first 21 innings upon being moved to the bullpen, Patrick has given up 14 earned runs and five homers in 9⅔ innings.

With their limited depth options at Class AAA Nashville, the Brewers have little choice but to keep giving Patrick opportunities to work through it. Ideally, those would take place in lower-leverage spots, but with a limited number of trusted options in the bullpen, that may be easier said than done.

Blake Perkins , Sal Frelick team up to tie it in fifth

Blake Perkins opened up the fifth with a ringing double to the right-center gap and scored one pitch later when Sal Frelick punched a single to left to even the score at 2-2.

That would be it for Milwaukee, though, as David Peterson got Cooper Pratt to hit into a double play to squash any chance at a big inning.

Seiya Suzuki puts the Cubs in front

Jun 27, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Chicago Cubs designated hitter Seiya Suzuki celebrates a home run against the Milwaukee Brewers with Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw (6) in the fourth inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

For the second straight game, Seiya Suzuki gave the Cubs the lead in the middle innings with an opposite-field blast.

Harrison retired the first 10 Cubs he faced before Matt Shaw singled up the middle with one out in the fourth. Suzuki then got a seventh consecutive fastball between his last two at-bats and hit it out 361 feet to right for a 2-1 advantage.

That would be all the damage allowed by Kyle Harrison , who was only able to make it five innings despite striking out nine because the Cubs elevated his pitch count early.

"I was upset I couldn't really go out for the sixth," said Harrison, who wanted to remain in the game but ultimately relented with the bigger picture in mind. "They grinded some tough at-bats and I was executing some pitches and they were fouling it off."

Jackson Chourio hits first pitch out

The very first pitch Peterson threw as a member of the Chicago Cubs was a forgetful one for the veteran lefty.

Jackson Chourio took a rip at a sinker over the plate from Peterson and clubbed it 411 feet to dead center at 108 mph for his 11th home run of the season. Chourio for the second straight night walked up to the plate to Luis Silva's "Venezuela."

The next time on base wasn't so fun for Chourio.

After reaching via a fielder's choice with one out in the third, Chourio stole second on a Brice Turang strikeout. Carson Kelly 's throw to the base was high, forcing shortstop Dansby Swanson to go airborne to make the catch. Chourio, however, thought the ball got past Swanson and took off for third, only to be surprised when Swanson easily flipped to third for the out.

Brewers probable pitchers

Brewers vs. Cubs, June 28, 1:10 p.m.: Milwaukee RHP Brandon Woodruff (2-1, 3.00) vs. Chicago LHP Ryan Rolison . TV – Brewers.TV. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.

Brewers vs. Reds , June 29, 6:40 p.m.:Milwaukee LHP Robert Gasser (1-3, 4.50) vs. Cincinnati LHP Nick Lodolo (2-2, 5.59). TV – Brewers.TV. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.

Brewers vs. Reds, June 30, 6:40 p.m.:Milwaukee RHP Brandon Sproat (2-4, 5.43) vs. Cincinnati RHP Rhett Lowder (3-5, 4.81). TV – Brewers.TV. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.

Brewers vs. Reds, July 1, 7:10 p.m.:Milwaukee LHP Shane Drohan (3-2, 3.12) vs. Cincinnati LHP Andrew Abbott (5-4, 3.90). TV – Brewers.TV. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.

Brewers vs. Reds, July 2, 1:10 p.m.:Milwaukee RHP Jacob Misiorowski (9-3, 1.45) vs. Cincinnati RHP Chase Burns (9-1, 2.00). TV – Brewers.TV. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Chad Patrick's struggles continue as Cubs run away from Brewers late, 8-2

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