The Cubs’ bats showed back up in a big way. It is, apparently, not *solely* the province of Reds pitching.
With an extra day of rest (*wink*), the Cubs looked fresh and ready to play, jumping out to a three-run lead in the first inning and not looking back. Every Cubs starter had at least one hit in the game, and the Cubs knocked four homers (Ben Zobrist with a leadoff shot, Kris Bryant with two, and Anthony Rizzo with a late one).
Jake Arrieta still battled some command issues (three wild pitches on the day (although, again, Willson Contreras figures to improve at blocking them), and he also had an error and a hit batter), but this was among his better overall starts this season. With 71 strikes out of 111 pitches, and seven groundouts to just three fly outs, that was what you want to see from Arrieta. He also struck out six over his six innings, and walked just one.
Pedro Strop mopped up the 7th inning successfully, and although newly-called-up Dylan Floro got through the 8th inning without giving up a run (two hits), he got knocked around and battled wildness trying to finish off the 12-run save in the 9th inning.
Thankfully, the Cubs had built up juuuuuust a little bit of a cushion. Cubs win!