The Cubs take the series, but they don’t get the sweep, as the Pirates won today’s finale behind a ridiculous performance from Gerrit Cole.
Here’s what I wrote in the Pre-Gamin’ today:
“Although they’ve never quite dismantled him, the Cubs have handled Cole well enough the last few times they’ve seen him. Still, he’s incredibly good, and one of these times, he will cruise. If and when that day comes, you just want to see the Cubs making him work a bit, and preventing him from going too deep into the game.”[adinserter block=”1”]
Cole didn’t get a chance to go the full nine, but he did go eight relatively easy innings, and really did cruise. He’s quite good, and when his location is on like was today, there’s not a lineup in baseball that’s going to knock him around too badly.
Which was a shame for a lot of reasons today, not the least of which was Jon Lester’s fantastic performance (and the defense behind him), which came in the loss. Lester carried a no-hitter into the 7th inning, and ultimately gave up only one run.
It was all the more shame that Hector Rondon gave up a 9th inning homer to Jung-Ho Kang, because the Cubs managed to finally score a run – just one – in the bottom of the 9th.
Ah well. Good series. Well done today by Cole.
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