NEWSLETTER
A win’s a win, man, but if there are too many more like that this year, I’ll be dead before August.
Tonight that quip was a little too close to literal, as I was listening to the game on the radio during my drive up to Chicago. I hit downtown, in the rain and fog, about the time Pedro Strop gave up a double to Khris Davis to bring the Brewers to within two, and traffic was kind enough to keep my driving all the way through that terrifying 9th inning.
2015 Chicago Cubs baseball: not super safe for driving.
Every run in a game counts as much as every other run, but how about the two-out, nobody on 9th inning run manufactured by hustle? Addison Russell hustles to first on a dribbler, takes second on an errant throw, and then takes third on a second (and truly inexplicable) throw. Dexter Fowler walks, and then Kris Bryant grounds one to the hole at short, and beats out the throw after a replay review overturns the initial out call. That run put the Cubs up four, and they needed it to win. Incredible.
Speaking of which, it sounded like Hector Rondon had nothing tonight. From the way Pat and Ron spoke, he wasn’t just walking guys, he was missing badly up in the zone – hence the hard hits. It’s a bit troubling when you start to wonder whether even Rondon and Strop are not immune to the Cubs’ bullpen woes this year. Hopefully it was just one of those “closer in a non-save situation” deals – the kind you can’t explain it with logic – and he’ll be fine next time out.
In any case, Jason Hammel was very good, and the bats showed up in force. I’d like to focus on that …
