Opening Day Interviews: Craig Counsell | Christian Yelich | Lorenzo Cain | Keston Hiura | Brandon Woodruff | David Stearns | More on our Brewers First Pitch Podcast
Game story from the Associated Press:
CHICAGO (AP) – Kyle Hendricks convinced new manager David Ross to let him finish a three-hitter, Anthony Rizzo homered and dished out hand sanitizer, and the Chicago Cubs started the season by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 3-0.
Ian Happ also had a two-run drive and Ross got his first victory as a big league manager as the Cubs opened this pandemic-shortened 60-game season without fans at Wrigley Field.
Showing off an improved curveball, Hendricks struck out nine and walked none in his first career opening-day start and fourth career shutout.
Scoring plays:
Cubs 3, Brewers 0, 8th inning; Anthony Rizzo solo home run
.@ARizzo44 OUT. pic.twitter.com/89WTyx3Vnb
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 25, 2020
Cubs 2, Brewers 0, 3rd inning: Ian Happ three-run home run
Cheers to @ihapp_1!@BinnysBev pic.twitter.com/zgGE1FDsFu
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 24, 2020
5:39 p.m.
“GLAD TO HAVE YOU BACK! GLAD WE’RE BACK!” – Bob Uecker moments ago on WTMJ #Brewers #OpeningDay #ThisIsOurCrew
— 620wtmj (@620wtmj) July 24, 2020
Live Second Screen: https://t.co/Pvn2cezDv2
Coverage by @kapcometal pic.twitter.com/GTl3hfSF9A
5:30 p.m.
Christian Yelich, we’ll have to see how much your salary gets docked for breaking the Wrigley Field video board.
.@ChristianYelich > Pizarra en Wrigley Field. ???????? #Corte4 pic.twitter.com/fupGu7CgFB
— Corte4 (@corte4) July 24, 2020
4:02 p.m.
A room…or a rooftop…with a view.
Two hours until first pitch at Wrigley Field. A view from rooftops on Waveland Avenue, with the Cubs taking batting practice. #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/8ryYCR5jCO
— 620wtmj (@620wtmj) July 24, 2020
3:25 p.m.
How will pitchers adjust to no fans in the stands?
— 620wtmj (@620wtmj) July 24, 2020
Josh Hader joined @genemueller to discuss that and much more.
Full interview: https://t.co/Jh6D5ldGrU@Brewers coverage presented by @kapcometal pic.twitter.com/aDAN1FtHoY
2:50 p.m.
Here’s your lineup for tonight’s season opener.
Here’s your #OpeningDay lineup!
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 24, 2020
Tune in at 6:10 p.m. CT as the Crew opens the 2020 season against the Cubs at Wrigley.
????: @fswisconsin
????: @620wtmj #ThisIsMyCrew | #BrewersAtHome pic.twitter.com/sWbFDSPgm1
2:18 p.m.
WTMJ Brewers voice Lane Grindle gives his perspective on a most unusual season opening up.
Brewers Announcer @lanegrindle stops by The @jeffwagner620 Show to provide a season preview of what’s to come for the Brew Crew.
— 620wtmj (@620wtmj) July 24, 2020
Full interview: https://t.co/uy9NU2V9ZX@Brewers coverage by @kapcometal pic.twitter.com/jqcbvxflFb
2:08 p.m.
Jeff Levering gets the opportunity to work beside a Hall of Fame broadcast legend dozens of days every year. How is it working with Ueck?
Brewers announcer @JLevering4 tells @WTMJSteve what it’s like to work with Bob Uecker in the broadcast booth and why he enjoys working with the legendary broadcaster.
— 620wtmj (@620wtmj) July 24, 2020
Full interview: https://t.co/oY4R1ldHL2@Brewers coverage presented by @kapcometal pic.twitter.com/FixcjudLoa
12:39 p.m.
WTMJ’s Kevin Wells entered Sluggers’ bar, one of the most popular ones in Wrigleyville.
Not a typical Opening Day of business.
12:20 p.m.
No Opening Day for Major League Baseball has ever happened like this before.
It’s July 24, not March or April. There will be no fans in the stands. No sausages or hot dogs being sold. No “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” sung.
But there will be pitches. Hits. Balls. Strikes. A winner. A loser. And Bob Uecker on your radio on WTMJ as the Brewers play at the Chicago Cubs.
WTMJ’s Kevin Wells is there and has discovered the uniqueness of this day.
Like seeing Brewers fans near Wrigley Field sporting masks, such as this couple.
Players entering Wrigley Field…with much fewer fans around than you’d normally see on Opening Day, even six hours before.
Some things still remain set in stone. Like the broadcasters we love. As Bob Uecker is in Milwaukee, Harry Caray was in Chicago.
As for the Brewers themselves, this is a season of hope, where both manager Craig Counsell and Brewers players like Christian Yelich see their talent and on-field managerial philosophy could lend themselves to success with a franchise record-setting third straight playoff berth.
Yet in this year of unknowns, we’re at the ultimate unknown for baseball. A 60-game “sprint” to the playoffs.
Stay tuned. This will be fun.