The Cubs’ bats once again showed up in force, with Kyle Schwarber cannon-firing a three run shot and Miguel Montero and Starlin Castro adding homers of their own. Jake Arrieta was dominant early on, and, although he seemed to fall off a bit in the middle innings, even that version is still a damn good pitcher.
Things got awfully touchy in the bottom of the 8th, with Tommy Hunter and Clayton Richard unable to hold the Giants down, who added four runs in the frame. But, hey, a win’s a win, and this one was the Cubs’ sixth in a row, and 21st in their last 25 games. Crazy.
Starlin Castro had a great game at the plate and was solid in the field. He notched a single, double, and homer, and, in the top of the 8th, he hit a hard one out into right center that looked like it could be his triple off the bat, but Marlon Byrd tracked it down. Still, it was great contact to right center, which is what you love to see from Castro, who struck the ball well all night.