Cubs obliterate Giants with 16-run explosion |
After a day off on Monday, the Cubs (6-12-1) were back in action today, taking on the Giants (8-8) at Scottsdale Stadium.
Tyler Chatwood got the start for Chicago, with Ian Happ (CF), Anthony Rizzo (1B), Javy Baez (SS), Kyle Schwarber (LF), Willson Contreras (DH), Jason Heyward (RF), Victor Caratini (C), David Bote (3B), and Nico Hoerner (2B) lining up behind him. Chatwood looked good, working a seamless, 12-pitch, first inning. Chatty’s fastball was living in the mid to upper 90s, and his control was excellent. The Cubs’ offense came to life early in this game. After not being able to score a run on one-out back to back singles by Rizzo and Baez in the first, the team got busy in the second. Using good ‘ole station to station hitting, Chicago stringed together six straight singles (Contreras, Heyward, Caratini, Bote, Hoerner, and Happ). Rizzo’s sac fly added another, the Baez’s double tallied two more. By the end of the half-inning, the Cubs were up 5-0, they had accumulated nine hits and Giants’ starter Johnny Cueto had been chased from the game. Schwarber was the only Cubs without a hit at this point. The hit parade continued in the third for Chicago. Doubles by Contreras and Bote would net another run, as the Cubs built their lead to 6-0. Bote would take third on a wild pitch, Hoerner walked, then both came around to score on Happ’s double. Happ now had hits from both sides of the plate, accumulating three RBIs. Cubs lead 8-0. Ian Happ is raking. pic.twitter.com/5ZyPQrHVQf There’s nothing like going 3 for 3, and that’s just where Contreras stood after belting a solo homer to the left. Cubs lead 9-0. Willy ?? Chatwood would end his day after 3.2 innings (pitch count), with RHP Duane Underwood Jr. taking his place in the fourth. Underwood would complete the scoreless frame. Underwood would pitch the fifth, and the Giants pounced all over him. A pair of doubles and a standing triple would cut the lead. SF would add another on a sac-fly. Cubs lead 9-3 after five innings. Javy Baez took matters into his own hands in the sixth, delivering a solo home run that cleared the outer fence in left field. Singles and doubles and dingers, oh my! pic.twitter.com/RzjUlwQXMB Subs (Bottom of the sixth): Ian Miller (CF), Alfonso Rivas (1B), Luis Vazquez (SS), Jared Young (LF), PJ Higgins (DH), Donnie Dewees (RF), Josh Phegley (C), Hernan Perez (3B), Andy Weber (2B). The Cubs would attack again in the seventh, beginning with Rivas’ leadoff walk. Phegley singled, then Miller moved both runners with a sac bunt, then Perez’s sac-fly scored Rivas. The Cubs led 11-3 after six-and-a-half. The Cubs would remain quiet in the eighth but then exploded in the ninth. Phegley hit a two-out double to the left, followed by Ian Miller’s single to center, which scored Phegley (Miller managed to grab second during the play). Perez singled to the left, scoring the speedy Miller from second, then Vazquez drew a walk. Next, Donnie Dewees homered to the right, making it 16-3 in favor of the Cubbies. Weber then singled to the left, tallying the Cubs’ 21st hit of the afternoon, but the inning and rally would finally end on Jared Young’s foul pop-out to third. David Ross would leave the closing duties to righty Dakota Mekkes. With two outs, Mekkes was burned on a bad call by home plate umpire Paul Clemons, resulting in a walk. Final Score Cubs-16; Giants-3. Cubs’ Offense 21 for 42 (.500), 9 for 15 (.600) with RISP. A very impressive afternoon for the North Siders. Cubs’ Pitching: Chatwood: 3.2 IP, 3-H, 0-R, 0-BB, 4-K, 1.86 ERA. Underwood – 5th inning: 1.1 IP, 3-H, 3-R, 3-ER, 0-BB, 1-K, 8.53 ERA. RHP Dan Winkler – 6th inning: 1.0 IP, 1-H, 0-R, 1-BB, 1-K, 6.75 ERA. RHP Rowan Wick – 7th inning: 1.0 IP, 1-H, 0-R, 1-BB, 1-K, 17.36 ERA. LHP Rex Brothers – 8th inning: 1.0 IP, 0-H, 0-R, 0-BB, 1-K. RHP Dakota Mekkes – 9th inning: 1.0 IP, 0-H, )-R, 1-BB, 1-K, 8.44 ERA. Next Game: Tomorrow 8:05 PM: Padres @ Cubs from Sloan Park. In a week, you can play as this man in @MLBTheShow '20. ?? pic.twitter.com/70wdjXu59p
Where does he rank amongst all-time #Cubs catchers? https://t.co/HDERTNL5lt pic.twitter.com/1rki5FTF8i
