That’s win number five out of the last seven games for the Cubs.
Jeff Samardzija once again failed to be the master of his pitch count (if that’s a thing), and pitched only five innings. It was a mixed bag, with some dominance and some wildness mixed in. The bottom of the Cubs order gave them the lead late (after getting things started early), and the bullpen made it stick, even if it wasn’t perfectly smooth.
Shawn Camp loaded the bases in the 7th, but James Russell came in and struck out Yonder Alonso, and Cody Ransom made a fantastic barehanded play on an excuse me dribbler from the next batter. Russell stayed in for the 8th, and, after getting the first two batters, he allowed back-to-back hits, putting the tying run in scoring position. Then it was Kevin Gregg’s turn to come in and bail Russell out, which he did. Gregg then finished off the 9th while Carlos Marmol looked on from the bullpen.
And, I mean, Gregg’s pitches looked, like, good while he was doing it.