NEWSLETTER
Clutch! One-out doubles by Albert Almora and Addison Russell tied this one in the 9th, and then a Ben Zobrist two-out single gave the Cubs the 3-2 win.
That one had to feel especially good after the bats managed only a single (gifted) run through eight innings. They were facing good stuff, to be sure, but man, they simply couldn’t put the bat on the ball. It was not fun to watch, and it felt like a game the Cubs were going to sleepwalk straight to a loss. Good on you, Almora, Russell, and Zobrist.
On the pitching side of things, the Cubs’ bullpen was fantastic once again, covering five of the game’s innings (they’re going to be so toast by the end of this road trip), and allowing just one solo homer to Ronald Acuna on a not bad Carl Edwards pitch. Cap tipping and all that.
The bullpen had to cover so many innings because Yu Darvish went just four innings and 61 pitches. He looked good, though. The fastball command was still spotty, but the pitch had excellent life, and his cutter and slider both looked like they had good movement. Assuming he’s not hurt, and he was simply removed early since he was returning from a sickness, that was an excellent return outing. (UPDATE: Leg cramping.)
The Cubs were the beneficiaries of a trio of Barves TOOTBLANs, though at least two of them – both in the 5th inning – were extremely the wrong call. On a wild pitch, Johan Camargo was thrown out at the plate, but he looked safe as heck to me (though replay disagreed … whateves). And then Charlie Culberson was thrown out at third base immediately thereafter, but he was even more obviously safe (but the Braves didn’t have a challenge at that point).
Feels like the Cubs stole this one, but they also earned it there in the 9th.
