NEWSLETTER
Unfortunately, this weekend’s Cubs/Cardinals series got off to a rocky start today, as just about everything that had been going wrong this season was condensed into the first two innings:
- An early deficit/first inning runs
- John Lackey allowing a homer
- Ian Happ, Kyle Schwarber, and Addison Russell each struck out
- Jason Heyward hit the ball really hard and really far … for an out (TWICE!).
And I can go on.
However, at least one of the good thing from the Cubs’ first 52 games in 2017 continued on into today: Kris Bryant’s magnificent hitting.
Check out his 12th homer of the season with two outs the bottom of the third inning:
Hey bleachers, remember Kris Bryant? KB with his 12th HR of the year. pic.twitter.com/5FfBL4UOFn
— Cubs Live (@Cubs_Live) June 2, 2017
As I mentioned, that homer was Bryant’s 12th of the season – tying him for the team lead with Anthony Rizzo. It also brought the Cubs within a run heading into the fourth.
According to statcast, the ball left the bat at just 97 MPH and traveled only 385 feet (weaker and shorter than Heyward’s fly out in the bottom of the second), but with a launch angle of 30 degrees, it had just enough on it to take it out and into the bleachers.
Bryant is now slashing .280/.399/.550 on the season – which is good for a wOBA and wRC+ better than his 2016 MVP campaign.
