NEWSLETTER
Thanks to some of the most garbage, flukey, bloopy hits, Cole Hamels gave up a run and threw 24 pitches in the first inning.
He then allowed no runs on 90 pitches for the rest of the game. It was awesome, and it was the Cubs’ first complete game of the season.
There’s no doubt Hamels was down to his final batter when the bases were loaded with one out in the 9th, so it was either a double play, or his night was going to end just shy of the complete game. Naturally, he got the double play.
It may have felt a bit gratuitous to allow Hamels to go for the complete game as he got up over 100 pitches in a game the Cubs were leading by six, but keep in mind, with a AAA starter being called up tomorrow, the bullpen might be used heavily. Getting them all an entire night off was a pretty great thing. Also, players like having the opportunity to achieve moments like a complete game.
Offensively, the Cubs got dingers from Anthony Rizzo and Javy Baez again – with Baez’s being a 481-foot monster shot – and they just kept tacking on. It was a comfortable win, with only the complete game in question by the end. I like that.
