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A quick look at the Chicago Cubs' 4-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday at Miller Park.

How it happened: The Cubs’ Scott Feldman got off to a strong start, but was undone by a three-run homer from the Brewers’ Ryan Braun in the fifth. After Yunieski Betancourt led off the inning with a double, Feldman struck out the next two batters. An error on Feldman allowed Jean Segura to reach first and then Braun made him pay with the home run. Anthony Rizzo provided the scoring for the Cubs in the third, hitting his sixth home run of the season off Wily Peralta, a two-run shot with two outs. Michael Bowden, James Russell and Shawn Camp threw three hitless innings in relief for the Cubs.

What it means: The Cubs were swept by the surging Brewers, who have won seven straight to climb back over .500. The Cubs fell to 5-12.

Outside the box: The Cubs have committed nine of their 17 errors against the Brewers, with Feldman and Welington Castillo adding to the total on Sunday.

Up next: The Cubs’ 10-game road trip continues Monday with a series in Cincinnati at Great American Ballpark. Travis Wood (1-1, 1.83 ERA) will take on the Reds’ Mike Leake (1-0, 4.26 ERA) in a 7:10 CT start.

MILWAUKEE -- Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum might be sending a message to his team after yet another sloppy loss on Saturday night to the Milwaukee Brewers.

"We're making mistakes that rookie ball people make," Sveum said after a 5-1 loss. "It seems to be the story every night."

The Cubs made three more bad errors Saturday leading to four unearned runs, and most alarming is they were made by key players -- two of whom should remain with the team if the Cubs become contenders over the next several years.

"It's unbelievable," Starlin Castro said. "I think we're trying to do too much. Trying to be too perfect."

Castro made his fourth error of the season, with two outs and a man on third base, on the easiest of ground balls in the fifth inning. That was preceded earlier in the inning by a fly ball that Alfonso Soriano dropped after thinking he had to go back for it instead of toward the infield. One inning later, Edwin Jackson threw away a potential double-play ball into center field.

"I double clutched," Jackson said. "Once I doubled clutched I didn't gather back up; caused me to open up instead of stay closed."

As always with this team lately, the outcome of the game is secondary. A more important concern is Castro's ability to play shortstop. Another question is whether Jackson can be a mainstay after starting 0-3. He's signed for four years and $52 million. Castro for seven years and $60 million. Sveum was asked if there really is anything he can do about the defense in terms of personnel considering the miscues are being made by his mainstays.

"There's always options if you can't play," Sveum said cryptically. "To win in the big leagues you have to have people that perform, and perform in 162 days and not once in a while. Otherwise you lose your job."

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MILWAUKEE -- Here's a quick look at the Chicago Cubs' 5-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday:

How it happened: Jonathan Lucroy improved to 6-15 lifetime against Edwin Jackson when he smacked a solo home run in the second inning. The Cubs tied the score in the fourth when Alfonso Soriano drove in Starlin Castro from second base. But the Brewers took the lead for good when the Cubs made two errors in the fifth leading to two unearned runs. First, Soriano dropped a fly ball -- that runner came around to score -- and two outs later Castro flubbed an easy grounder allowing another one to come in. In the sixth inning, Jackson threw away an easy double-play ball and the Brewers scored two more unearned runs. Other than the Castro run in the fourth inning, Cubs bats were silent against first-time starter Hiram Burgos and the Brewers' relief corps.

What it means: There's simply no excuse for many of the errors the Cubs have made this season. It has derailed more than just Saturday's game and more than one decent start from the team's rotation. A lack of focus seems to be the only answer, as these errors have come mostly on routine plays. The rest of the game, as well as Jackson's overall performance, is hard to judge when it comes apart so needlessly. After all, Jackson made one of the errors himself, leading to runs that don't count on his ERA. Maybe they should.

Key stat: Three errors in the game tied the Cubs with the Washington Nationals for the major league lead with 15, though the Cubs have played one fewer game.

What's next: The 5-11 Cubs try to avoid the sweep on Sunday when Scott Feldman takes the mound.

MILWAUKEE -- Like most pitching coaches, Chris Bosio of the Chicago Cubs tells it like it is. And right now he's trying to tell his staff -- especially his relief corps -- that it needs to be better.

"We have to get that bullpen figured out," Bosio said before the Cubs played the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday night. "We have to produce."

Unlike the front office, or even manager Dale Sveum, an assistant coach like Bosio isn't concerned about the future or the word "rebuilding." He's about the here and now. And right now he has a bullpen in flux.

"It is what it is. You have to get these guys out there," Bosio said of two newcomers. "We have to get them on the mound."

New guy Kevin Gregg finally did get on the mound, in Friday's 5-4 loss to Milwaukee, for the first time this season. He promptly put two batters on base and was pulled.

Bosio knew Gregg would be rusty. Kameron Loe has pitched one inning in 11 days so expect some unneasiness when he gets out there again. Both pitchers were picked up off waivers, so they hadn't pitched much in quite some time.

"It's tough. Since they've been here, we've been in these really tight games, and all of a sudden we're in these one-run games and you really don't want to send a guy out there that hasn't pitched in a stadium in two weeks," Sveum said.

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MILWAUKEE -- In possibly one of the strangest innings in major league history, Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Jean Segura both stole second base and was caught stealing second in the same inning on Friday.

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MILWAUKEE -- It was an inauspicious start to Julio Borbon's career as a Chicago Cub as he was thrown out to end the game trying to steal second base in a 5-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.

It was only minutes earlier the new Cub had arrived at Miller Park.

"Literally probably about five minutes before the game got over," Borbon said afterward. "They gave me the green light right away."

Borbon was claimed off waivers from the Texas Rangers at about noon Friday and quickly packed his bags and left for Chicago. Arriving at O'Hare Airport at about the time the first pitch was thrown, he got into a car and made it to Miller Park as the ninth inning began.

"I ran a couple of sprints up and down the dugout and just went out there," Borbon said.

Borbon was used as a pinch-runner at first base for Dioner Navarro with two outs. Seconds later the game was over.

"If it happens tomorrow again, I'll be ready to do it," Borbon said.

But was he ready Friday?

Attempting to steal as the tying run in the ninth inning is a risky proposition on any day, but in Borbon's first game, just minutes after he arrived, it probably wasn't the best decision.

MILWAUKEE -- Here’s a quick look at the Chicago Cubs' 5-4 defeat to the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night at Miller Park.

How it happened: An awful first inning sunk the Cubs as the first five batters reached via error, single, home run, double and triple. But starter Jeff Samardzija finally shut the door after four runs had crossed the plate, giving his team a chance. The visitors put up three of their own in the third inning on home runs by Luis Valbuena and David DeJesus. But the Cubs offense stalled after that despite putting the leadoff hitter on base in seven consecutive innings. The teams exchanged late-inning home runs when the Brewers’ Carlos Gomez went deep followed by Anthony Rizzo the next inning.

Sveum ejected: Cubs manager Dale Sveum was sent to the showers in the sixth inning after arguing with home plate umpire Chris Guccione. Guccione had removed his mask to respond to Samardzija, who yelled towards home plate after a borderline pitch to Ryan Braun was called a ball. Sveum got in his money’s worth before leaving the field.

What it means: There was some good that came of the loss in that Samardzija once again proved he can overcome adversity. Rizzo’s error on the opening batter and a perfectly executed hit-and-run set the tone for the awful first inning but after the damage was done, Samardzija retired 17 of the next 19 batters.

What’s next: The series continues on Saturday night when Edwin Jackson (0-2, 6.06 ERA) takes the mound for the 5-10 Cubs against the Brewers’ Hiram Burgos (first start of season). Game time is 6:10 CT.

Chicago Cubs backup catcher Dioner Navarro interviews starter Welington Castillo about his career-high four-hit day on Thursday against the Rangers.

ESPN Chicago's Jesse Rogers talks with Cubs pitcher Carlos Villanueva about his nice start to the season.



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MILWAUKEE – Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum was ejected in the sixth inning of the Chicago Cubs’ 5-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night after arguing with home plate umpire Chris Guccione.

Guccione called an outside borderline pitch by Jeff Samardzija to Ryan Braun a ball, prompting Samardzija to yell towards home plate. That’s when Guccione ripped off his mask and stared back at the Cubs pitcher.

“As far as I was concerned you can have a little emotion out there about some calls,” Samardzija said afterwards. “I didn’t think I did anything out of line. I made a comment and that was it and he decided to show me up from behind the plate.”

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MILWAUKEE -- You might be wondering that’s up with the Chicago Cubs roster these days. After picking up left-handed outfielder Julio Borbon off waivers on Friday they currently employ six outfielders and five infielders, not including their catchers. That’s a little out of the ordinary.

“It’s another way of getting the organization stronger,” manager Dale Sveum said before his team played the Milwaukee Brewers Friday night. “He’s pretty much a .290 hitter with 600 at-bats in the big leagues. It’s a really nice pickup. You don’t have to trade or spend money. You just don’t find those assets on every corner.”

And isn’t that the answer right there? The Cubs are still in the acquiring assets mode, not the “roster needs to be balanced” mode. They aren’t saying this, but what’s the difference if there’s only one back-up infielder? If they get caught short for a game they aren’t going to lose a playoff bid, right?

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MILWAUKEE -- Chicago Cubs pitcher Matt Garza took one step closer to returning from his lat injury Friday night, throwing two innings of a simulated game before the Cubs took on the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

“I just was happy to be out there,” Garza said afterwards. “It was cold, there were no lights, but who cares. Pretty excited, pretty pumped. Now back to work.”

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The Chicago Cubs claimed outfielder Julio Borbon off waivers from the Texas Rangers and designated infielder Alberto Gonzalez for assignment.

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ESPNChicago.com's Jesse Rogers takes your Cubs questions during a live chat at noon CT Friday. Click here to submit your questions.

CHICAGO -- Forget about his past label as reliever, Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Villanueva might just be more than a No. 5 starter.

After another stellar performance on Thursday in which he allowed two runs over seven innings in a 6-2 win over the Texas Rangers, Villanueva has established himself as arguably the Cubs best starter so far.

"I know what's in him and how he can pitch to a game plan," manager Dale Sveum said. "With his ability to throw four pitches and change speeds with his breaking ball, you're talking getting people out and keeping slugging percentage to a minimum."

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