All right. That’s win number two, and even if it was a bit of a trial getting there, winning two of the first three in Miami is a good outcome!
The Cubs lost a three-run lead in the middle innings, lost a one-run lead late, but then pulled tonight’s extra-innings affair out in the 10th. So, no 17-inning marathon tonight, but it felt like much more back-and-forth than last night’s grind.
Ben Zobrist had the game-winning knock in the 10th, and well said, Cubs:
Quite possibly one of the greatest 10th-inning, go-ahead hits on the road to make the score 7-6 that @benzobrist18 has ever had. pic.twitter.com/YcsMKJz0xX
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 1, 2018
Yu Darvish’s Cubs debut was not what anyone was hoping. It was a short outing, bookended by a two-run homer two batters into the game, and an inability to get out of the fifth inning at the end. It was just 4.1 innings and 5 ER on 5 H, 2 BB, 2 HBP, and 4 K. The command wasn’t there on anything arm side, which prevented him from putting guys away after he’d get a couple strikes on them. There will be better days.
The bullpen was great once again, with the only run given up coming afterPedro Strop did not get the benefit of … um … borderline pitches:
I have questions. pic.twitter.com/IZypN2Puet
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) April 1, 2018
Naturally, that guy dribbled a hit, and the next guy singled to tie the game. Whateves.
As for the offense:
Neither of those things is necessarily unfair, as the Cubs did give themselves so many opportunities that a couple huge hits from Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo produced six of the ten runs, but the Cubs also squandered so many other scoring chances (especially those frustrating runner-on-third, under-two-outs types). I can understand plenty of annoyances throughout the night, even if the final score looks mighty good.
But, all is well that ends well …