Maddon, Hammel brush off rough outing

MILWAUKEE — Cubs manager Joe Maddon won’t talk about the playoffs until the Cubs clinch and he knows their opponent, but he made it clear that right-hander Jason Hammel didn’t do anything on Tuesday night to knock himself out of consideration for the postseason rotation, despite what the linescore looks like.

Hammel served up a season-high 13 hits over 5 2/3 innings in the Cubs’ 12-5 loss to the Brewers on Tuesday. He was charged with eight earned runs, five of which came in the first inning.

“Usually, if they’re going to get him, it’s going to be early in the game,” Maddon said. “When he gets deeper in the game, he normally settles in. … I thought he righted himself, and it didn’t play out.”

Jonathan Villar launched Hammel’s second pitch into the Brewers’ bullpen for a leadoff homer, and after Kirk Nieuwenhuis’ bunt hit, Ryan Braun made it 2-1 with a single off Hammel’s sixth pitch. The next two batters reached via a hit and a walk, then Domingo Santana made it 4-1 with a two-run single. One more hit loaded the bases, and Martin Maldonado made the first out …

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