The Milwaukee Brewers surely didn’t anticipate Aaron Civale playing a role for the team’s arch-nemesis in the chase for the National League Central title.
Civale, claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs from the Chicago White Sox, was in a Cubs uniform on Sept. 1, activated as part of the team’s expanded roster to start the final month of the season. His debut went quite well, with three shutout innings helping the Cubs stage a rally and beat the Braves in walk-off fashion, 7-6.
Civale, who began the year with the Brewers but was sent to the White Sox in a trade that’s already paid significant dividends for Milwaukee, wound up across town after posting a 5.37 ERA in 13 starts with the White Sox (67 innings), with a 1.373 WHIP. He pitched five games for the Brewers this season, posting a 4.91 ERA and 1.364 WHIP, but he requested a trade when the Brewers added Jacob Misiorowski to he rotation and announced intention to move Civale into a bullpen role.
Now, Civale is indeed in the bullpen, though while wearing his third uniform this season. Making his first career appearance as a reliever, Civale struck out four Braves on Sept. 1, inheriting a 6-2 deficit that turned into 6-6 tie by the time he departed.
Carson Kelly’s two-run homer in the ninth against Pierce Johnson tied the game for the Cubs, and Kelly later delivered a walk-off single into the corner for the 7-6 extra-inning triumph that proved doubly annoying given that the Brewers also lost a four-run lead in their own loss to Philadelphia the same day.
The Brewers’ initial deal sending Civale to the White Sox involved Milwaukee taking a flyer on former first-round pick Andrew Vaughn, who proceeded to have a ridiculous month at the plate for the Brewers.
Civale was in much better shape with the White Sox prior to August, posting a 3.56 ERA in his first 48 innings. But he’d allowed 21 runs over his final four starts (19 innings), resulting in a ticket across town.
Now, he finds himself on the other side of the rivalry, with the Brewers coming into Sept. 1 with a 5½ game lead over the Cubs for the top spot in the division.
The game was started by Civale’s rotation-mate with the Brewers last year, Colin Rea, who allowed three runs in five innings. Former Brewers reliever Taylor Rogers then checked in and allowed three runs in one inning of work, prompting the Cubs to bring in Civale.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Brewers starter Aaron Civale has huge debut for rival Cubs
Reporting by JR Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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