Cubs' Adbert Alzolay Takes ‘Huge Step Forward' Against Brewers

Adbert Alzolay takes 'huge step forward' against Brewers originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

Cubs starter Adbert Alzolay on Monday did something he hadn’t ever done before.

Take the mound in a big-league start past the fifth inning.

“My anxiety was through the roof at that moment,” the right-hander said after Monday’s game, a 6-3 Cubs loss to the Brewers. 

“I don’t remember the last time that I was out there as a starting pitcher throwing in the sixth inning,” he added.

It’s certainly been a long time since Alzolay pitched that deep into a start. Before Monday, you have to go all the way back to June 14, 2019, when he threw six innings in a start at Triple-A.

Alzolay actually pitched six innings in three of his Triple-A starts in 2019. But even last season, his longest outing was five innings, accomplished in his first and final of four starts in the majors.

Then 26-year-old was strong through five frames on Monday, holding the Brewers to one hit — a single off the wall by Avi Garcia in the second inning. But he worked around that to face the minimum through five, needing just 53 pitches to do so.

Whether he should have gone back out for the sixth is debatable. Alzolay, who admitted fatigue was setting in, loaded the bases on two singles and a walk.

Andrew Chafin replaced him with one out, the Cubs leading 1-0. Luis Urías pinch hit for lefty Dan Vogelbach and promptly hit a three-run double off Chafin, all three runs charged to Alzolay. 

Chafin allowed three more runs to give the Brewers a commanding and decisive lead.

That final inning aside, Alzolay's outing was promising. He struck out six Brewers, five on his slider, which was effective most of the night.

Sour ending aside, Alzolay is looking to build off Monday's performance.

“It was a huge step forward that I was able to keep my pitch count down and have the opportunity to go out there for the sixth inning,” he said.

"When I go out there and I execute my pitches, I can [perform] like [Monday]," he added.

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