Cubs fall to Brewers 8-7 on June 20, 2025, despite homers from Pete Crow-Armstrong and others. A rough start for Taillon proved costly in the slugfest.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was one of those nights at Wrigley Field where the ball was flying, but unfortunately, more of them flew for the other guys. The Cubs dropped a heartbreaker to the Milwaukee Brewers, 8-7, in a back-and-forth slugfest that saw the tying run stranded on base in the ninth. The loss stings, trimming the Cubs' NL Central lead to a still-respectable 5.5 games, but it served as a potent reminder of both the team's fighting spirit and the firepower waiting in the wings.
Pete Crow-Armstrong's 20th home run of the season was a rocket, a silver lining in a game that felt just out of reach.
The offense certainly wasn't the problem Friday night. The Cubs launched three homers of their own, with Dansby Swanson and Ian Happ joining Pete Crow-Armstrong in the long-ball party. PCA's 20th blast was a statement, but it was matched by Milwaukee's power display, including a three-run shot from Isaac Collins and a two-run homer from Caleb Durbin. Starter Jameson Taillon had a tough outing, surrendering five runs on eight hits in just four innings, putting the Cubs in an early hole they couldn't quite climb out of. A late rally in the eighth brought them within one, but Trevor Megill shut the door in the ninth to earn his 16th save and hand the Cubs a frustrating series-opening loss.
While PCA was showing off his power in Chicago, another top prospect was doing the same for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. Catcher/DH Moisés Ballesteros, the club's No. 3 prospect, absolutely demolished a baseball, sending it 410 feet for a solo home run. It's another tantalizing glimpse of the offensive potential brewing in the high minors. As the big league club navigates the grind of the season, you have to wonder how long it will be before Ballesteros gets his shot to provide a spark in Chicago, especially with the trade deadline looming.
Losing a game like this can be deflating, but the big picture for the Cubs organization remains incredibly strong. Even after shipping top prospect Cam Smith to Houston in the blockbuster Kyle Tucker trade, the Cubs' farm system is the envy of baseball. According to MLB Pipeline, the team still boasts seven players in the Top 100 prospects, tied for the most in the league. Farm director Jason Kanzler emphasized that depth, noting several players at Double-A and Triple-A are on the cusp of being big-league ready. This gives the front office incredible flexibility: they can either call up reinforcements for the stretch run or package some of that talent to acquire another key piece at the trade deadline.
Friday's loss was a tough pill to swallow, especially against a division rival. But this team has shown its resilience all year. They're still leading the Central, Pete Crow-Armstrong is developing into a legitimate power threat right before our eyes, and the organizational depth is second to none. Let's shake this one off and get back at them tomorrow. This series is far from over, and so is the path to October.
