The Most Intense Rivalry

Written by: Kevin Orris on 4th July 2009

The Most Intense Rivalry | read this item

Most people in the Upper Midwest feel that the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers have the best rivalry in sports, however, the tides are turning. There isn’t much national media attention given to a new, and geographically closer rivalry between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs, but it’s emerging as one of the craziest.

For many years, the Brewers and Cubs were in opposite leagues, however, things changed in 1998 when the Brewers shifted over to the NL Central. The two teams have squared off multiple times since then, but it wasn’t until Opening Day 2008 that things got interesting.

On March 31, 2008, both squads were scoreless until the top of the 9th inning, when the visiting Brewers managed to score three runs off of brand new closer Kerry Wood. Opposing closer Eric Gagne, who was making his first appearance for the Brew Crew, came in to close out the ninth, but his glasses were fogging up in the cold weather (44 degrees Fahrenheit).

After allowing a Derrek Lee single, and walking Aramis Ramirez, the “Asian Sensation” Kosuke Fukudome stepped up to the plate and belted a three run, game tying home run to deep center field which led the Wrigley faithful to explode in joy. Gagne, a Canadian, eventually managed to get out of the inning and the Brewers would capture the lead in the top of the tenth and David Riske would close out the match.

On April 30, 2008, Gagne received another chance to close out a game in Wrigley Field and succeeded. The most interesting game of the series was yet to come, which would take place on May 1, 2008. The Brewers headed into the top of the ninth down 3-1. Wood, just like earlier in the season, was brought in to close the game but allowed three runs, which would provide the Brewers with a 4-3 lead which Eric Gagne would seal.

The Cubs had their own successes against the Brewers in 2008 as well, all of which came towards the end of the season. On July 28, 2008, the two teams faced off in Miller Park when new closer Salomon Torres entered the game with a 4-4 tie heading into the ninth. Lee was able to drive in what would end up being the game winning run, and and Mark DeRosa single would add to the lead in a 6-4 win for the Northsiders.

Due to Hurricane Ike, the Houston Astros home stand against the Cubbies was moved to Miller Park, a nuetral site, and of course the home of the Brew Crew. Carlos “Big Z” Zambrano managed to toss a no-hitter against the ‘stros and Brewers fans were very frustrated that it occurred in their stadium.

Of course, the 2008 drama wasn’t over, and on September 18, 2008, when Geovany Soto’s two out, ninth inning three run home run was able to force the game to extra innings, which the Cubs would end up winning 7-6 in the 12th inning.

The season ended just as it started with these two teams facing off, this time at Miller Park. On September 28th, a game that had big implications for both teams that looked to be headed to the playoffs, Ryan Braun killed a fastball deep into the left field bleachers to push the Brew Crew into the playoffs for the first time in years.

So far, the 2009 season has been far from a disappointment as well. On April 12, 2009, they faced off in Milwaukee in a game featured on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. In the fifth inning with the Cubs up 6-2, Prince Fielder stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and no outs against Ryan Dempster. He managed to hit Dempster’s pitch deep to right field, where a recently subbed in Reed Johnson (who took Milton Bradley’s place after he injured his hamstring running the bases) managed to rob what would have been his first career grand slam.

The Cubs would end up winning the game 8-5, but would meet again in the same building in less than a month on May 8th. It appeared that this would be another low-scoring game with a 2-1 Cubs lead heading into the 8th inning, but Braun would strike again. A two run shot off of pitcher Aaron Heilman would provide the Brewers with a 3-2 lead, which brand new closer Trevor Hoffman would safely hold onto.

Then there was yesterday’s matinee, in which Mark DiFelice walked Jake Fox in the bottom of the 10th, which scored the game winning run and propelled the Wrigleyville residents into a rousing edition of “Go Cubs, Go,” in celebration of their 2-1 victory. The best part of the game however, was Bob Uecker singing the seventh inning stretch and including the phrase, “Root, root, root for the Brewers.”

Although the two squads only have a few games remaining in 2009, it’s a good chance that there will be some good ones, and more fuel will be added to the fire.

Topics: Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Zambrano, Chicago Cubs, derrek lee, Eric Gagne, Geovany Soto, Kerry Wood, Kosuke Fukudome, Mark DiFelice, milwaukee brewers, prince fielder, Ryan Braun, Ryan Dempster