NEWSLETTER
UNCLENCH. They did it.
There was 9th inning drama, because of course there was, but Drew Smyly was able to get the job done, pitching for the third consecutive day. Cubs win the game, Cubs win the series. Cubs win the West Coast road trip with a final record of 5-4 against the Padres, Mariners, and Diamondbacks. It certainly COULD have gone better than that, with blown saves and crazy blown leads. But you’ll absolutely take that outcome out west, especially when the Cubs are as banged up as they are right now.
But back to today: While Jordan Wicks started this game and Drew Smyly closed it out, it was the guy in between, Hayden Wesneski, who gets the game ball.
Wesneski, who was just called up by the Cubs this afternoon, was immediately thrust into a big moment in the 5th inning of a tie-ball game. He took over for Jordan Wicks, who left Wesneski with a couple of guys on and just one out, but got two quick outs to end the threat. That, alone, was great.
But even more impressive than cleaning up the mess? The fact that he came back out for the sixth, seventh, eighth, and first out of the ninth inning, allowing ONLY one hit over those 4.0 innings. No walks. No runs. No drama.
In fact, the only reason he wasn’t allowed to finish that game was because of the two lefties coming up (of course, Smyly gave up a homer to Joc Pederson anyway). It was an absolutely brilliant performance by Wesneski, and exactly what this Cubs bullpen needed today.
As for Jordan Wicks, he was actually pretty good in this one, despite the early hook: 4.1 IP, 5H, 2ER, 1BB, 5K and another nine whiffs. I even saw him touch 95 MPH on the radar gun. We are definitely digging into that tomorrow. You might be inclined to be disappointed by what appears to be another short outing, but it really was just circumstantial. With a pocket of righties coming up and Hayden Wesneski stretched out as a starter and on full rest, it was absolutely the right call to pull him there. Craig Counsell was playing to win today – not preserve arms at any cost – and it paid off big time (especially because Wesneski lasted so long). Wicks was not at all inefficient (74 pitches through 4.1) and he was pitching fine. It was just good pitcher/game/bullpen management.
Other than that, Christopher Morel continues to flash some serious leather at third base. It’s starting to get impressive (and his arm strength … YEEESH). And even Cody Bellinger is starting to look like he’s coming around to me (two hits and a homer today).
The Cubs basically won this game thanks to an infield single, a stolen base, a well-placed bloop, and a couple of Diamondbacks errors, but there really was good stuff all the way around. Nice win. Now it’s off to Chicago, where the Miami Marlins arrive for four-straight at Wrigley Field before an off-day on Monday. Take care of business in that series, and the Cubs will be sitting pretty.
