Cubs and Brewers: One of Baseball's Best Rivalries

It's not exactly Cubs-Cardinals or Yankees-Red Sox, but the Cubs-Brewers rivalry is quickly becoming one of baseball's best. 

The past two years, the Cubs and Brewers have battled it out for the Central division title.  The losses of CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets will make it difficult for the Brewers this year, but the atmosphere of Cubs-Brewers games will continue to grow. 

It doesn't matter if it's April or September, it's always a playoff atmosphere in both Wrigley Field and Miller Park when these two ball clubs meet. 

On Saturday night, 43,768 fans came out to Miller Park to see the visiting Cubs come from behind to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers.   It was the biggest crowd in all of baseball on this first Saturday of the regular season. 

Fans of both teams were on the edge of their seat for much of the evening. 

With the Brewers leading 5-4 in the ninth, Cubs left-fielder Alfonso Soriano deposited the first pitch he saw from Carlos Villanueva over the left field wall giving the Cubs 6-5 lead. 

Carlos Marmol would come on in the ninth to close out the game striking out both Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder.  Cubs fans went home happy, and Brewers fans went home disappointed. 

Finishes like this are very common between the Cubs and Brewers.  On Friday, the Cubs watched the Brewers score two runs in the ninth to defeat the Cubs 4-3.  

Opening Day of 2008, the Cubs trailed the Brewers 3-0 at Wrigley when Kosuke Fukudome blasted a game tying three-run homer.  The Brewers would win the game in 10 innings, but it was the first of many exciting games between Chicago and Milwaukee. 

Last September the Cubs trailed the Brewers by four runs with two out and nobody on.  Game over?? Not at all.  The Cubs would storm from behind and Geovany would hit a game tying three-run homer. 

The Cubs would win the game in the 11 innings. 

Three weeks later, the two ball clubs would meet to finish the regular season.  It would finish with the same excitement it started.  Ryan Braun hit a go ahead two run homer in the eighth inning, and the Brewers would go on to clinch a playoff spot. 

Sunday Night, the rest of the country will get a taste of this great rival on National TV.  The Cubs and Brewers will meet on Sunday Night baseball. 

It's hard to predict who will be tomorrow's hero, but you can expect a great atmosphere with 43 thousand plus screaming fans. 

Two good teams and two fan bases who don't like each other.  Those are the ingredients of great rivalry.