For 13 innings, the Cubs’ offense did that thing to which we’ve become so painfully accustomed: raked with the bases empty, flail around with runners on base.
Thankfully, the pitching made that not-so-much-with-the-scoring stand up until the 14th inning, when the Cubs exploded for six runs, two each on three big hits:
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(You can ignore the baserunning oops in there, as Zobrist never makes mistakes like that.)
Almora’s two-run double (and advance on the throw) was such a beautiful piece of hitting. He gets a 2-0 meatball and squares it up the other way, not trying to do anything except hit it hard and go with the pitch.
Zobrist’s double was something of the “put it in play and see what happens” variety, but hey, sometimes that’s all you need (especially with the wizened statue of Adrian Gonzalez playing first base).
And then you had Javy Baez’s incredible homer:
Why you sometimes just let a guy be himself? This was an 0-2 100(!) mph fastball above the zone, and Javy Baez freaking crushed it. Pitcher did exactly what he wanted to do. Javy don't care. pic.twitter.com/Oxv2p1BW8v
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) June 3, 2018
It was 105.4 mph off the bat, and went nearly 400 feet. Again, on an 0-2 fastball above the zone at 100 mph. Javy gonna Javy and sometimes it’s going to be a very good thing.