[adinserter block=”1″]The Cubs’ bats tonight were, as they say, relentless.
They worked Reds starter Alfredo Simon in every plate appearance, and by the time his night was done, he’d given up five runs, thrown 49 pitches, and recorded just two outs – one of which was a well-struck sacrifice fly. It was the second time in just a little over a week that the Cubs made an opposing starting pitcher throw more than 40 pitches in a single inning (Garrett Richards had a 42-pitch inning on Opening Night).
It didn’t get any better for the Reds from there, as the Cubs didn’t just add to the lead, they worked every single plate appearance like it was coming in a tied game. Up and down the lineup you could highlight solid games, including Jorge Soler’s perfect night, Kris Bryant’s first homer and multiple walks, and so much more.
John Lackey’s second start with the Cubs started out as inauspiciously as his first – the first three batters reached, and Lackey was dealing with a bases loaded, no out jam from the word go. He allowed just one of those runners to score, though, settled down considerably, and wound up pitching 6.2 innings and giving up just two earned runs. He was solid.
It wasn’t as dramatic as Monday night’s win over the Reds, but it was plenty of fun.