The Cubs are back! They finally figured it all out! I kid. I kid.
But they did manage to beat a very beatable Mariners club, so that’s good.
It took another six innings, combined with the two consecutive shutouts before this one, but the Cubs finally scored a run, as Anthony Rizzo smacked an RBI single into center in the 7th. Kyle Schwarber cleared the bases a couple batters later (intentionally walking Albert Almora sure is a decision), and then scored on an Addison Russell RBI groundout. It felt like the Cubs had just scored 50 runs, but 5 was enough.
Kyle Hendricks was on cruise control in this one, smoothly flying through 6.0 innings of work against a meh Mariners lineup – but, they, they’re still pros, and that’s just what a good pitcher should do. The bullpen didn’t allow a run from there.
Hey, how freaking good did big lefty Brad Wieck look in the 9th? That curveball is something else. More on him later.