NEWSLETTER
Well, that proved to be a fairly wild game for such a low-scoring affair against one of the worst teams in baseball.
The Cubs were down 2-0 quickly on a couple Padres homers, as Jon Lester labored through the first few innings of the game. And then a switch flipped, and he was fantastic, ultimately lasting six strong innings. Lester is good.
Offensively, the Cubs were a collective double-play machine right from the word go. History’s Greatest Leadoff Hitter Anthony Rizzo led off the first inning with a bunt single because of course he did, but was erased on a double play.
The Cubs did manage to get back into the game, though, with a Rizzo sac fly and a Willson Contreras oppo shot, exactly one year to the day from his first big league at bat … in which he homered. Cool moment there.
The lead run came when Javy Baez, on a hit and run, scored from first base on a ball dumped by Albert Almora into shallow left field. It was a tremendous piece of baserunning and awareness, both of which Baez is well known for at this point.
The Cubs nearly tied the game before Contreras’s homer when a Kris Bryant liner into center sent Rizzo home trying to tag. He was throw out (by Matt Szczur no less) by a mile, and because of the timing and Padres catcher Austin Hedges’ decision to move in front of the plate, Rizzo absolutely blasted him. Hedges left the game with a bruised thigh. Here’s hoping Rizzo doesn’t now have to wear one at some point this series.
Wade Davis got into a little trouble in the 9th by giving up some freebies, and pounding the dirt, but a perfectly elevated fastball to strike out Wil Myers and then a nice play on a bouncer finished things off.
A nice little comeback win for the Cubs! Who are back over .500!
