Game Recap: Fast start leads Cubs to series win against A's |
Dustin Riese
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- 22 hours ago
SACRAMENTO - Maybe playing the Sacramento Athletics (2-4) was just what the doctor ordered to get the Chicago Cubs (4-4) offense back on track, as they have been pounding the baseball over the first two games of this series. Not only have the Cubs connected for six homers over the first two games, but with 25 runs scored, it's nice to see the offense starting to come to life after being one of the worst offensive teams through six games.
Tuesday was a massive step in the right direction, as the Cubs not only took on a very good pitcher in Luis Severino, who had carved them up the previous season, but were coming off a game where they had pounded out 21 hits and 18 runs the night before. Typically, when that happens, the Cubs struggle to score runs the next day. However, with three runs in the first inning and five runs in the first few innings, runs weren't an issue for the Cubs, as they delivered a 7-4 victory to claim the series. Justin Steele made his third start of the season, and once again it was a strange outing for the left-hander. For whatever reason, Steele is struggling to get rolling in the early stages of the game, as he was hit for a pair of homers in the first three innings and was charged with four runs off those homers. Apart from that, he was starting to look like the Ace the Cubs need him to be as Steele wouldn't allow another run the rest of the way to finish with six strikeouts across 6 2/3 for his second win. The same can be said about Severino, who was hit hard in the early stages of the game, made some adjustments, and ultimately gave his team six gutsy innings while throwing nearly 110 pitches. Knowing this team's history of scoring a lot of runs in the game prior, the best way to erase a negative trend is by getting off to a great start, which is exactly what the Cubs did. Three batters into the game, the Cubs were already up 3-0 as Seiya Suzuki uncorked a long blast to straightaway center field, not only grabbing the lead but also never looking back. Seiya starting hot 🔥 pic.twitter.com/XHvs9y7led However, given how the ball has been flying out of the yard in this series, three runs were not going to be enough, and after Brent Rooker took Steele deep in the bottom of the first, it was the A's pulling within 3-2. Sacramento continued to put pressure on Steele in the bottom of the first by adding two more singles later in the inning, only to come away empty. With neither team doing anything in the second inning, the long ball again played a factor in the third as Kyle Tucker connected for his fourth homer in as many days to push the Cubs lead back to 4-2. Tucker is also leading the MLB in RBIs in the early stages of the season, as this is the player the Cubs have longed for since their World Series days. FOURTH. STRAIGHT. GAME. pic.twitter.com/8xmVuds0Je “I just feel in a good place right now,” Tucker told Taylor McGregor after the win. “I’m not chasing a whole lot. I’m just trying to stay within myself and try and drive balls to the field all over the place. So just trying to get my pitches and do the most with it.” Suzuki kept the line moving with his second hit in as many at-bats before racing home on another well-struck double by Dansby Swanson, which put the Cubs ahead 5-2. As was the case in the first inning when the Cubs opened up a three-run lead, the Athletics not only had an answer for the Cubs, but used the long ball to pull within a run. This time, Shea Langeliers was getting involved, connecting for a long two-run blast to pull the A's within 5-4. Not only were those the final runs of the game off Steele, but they were also the final runs of the night for the A's, as Steele scattered just two hits the rest of the way and closed out his outing by retiring the final seven hitters he faced before handing things over to the bullpen. Looking to put the game away in the fourth, the Cubs had a golden opportunity as a pair of singles from Pete Crow-Armstrong and Miguel Amaya, combined with a Matt Shaw walk, not only loaded the bases but also loaded them with no outs and the top of the Cubs' order coming to bat. Ian Happ made the most of that chance by narrowly missing a Grand Slam as he had to settle for a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 6-4. Following a walk to Tucker to load the bases again, it was down to Suzuki and Busch to come through. However, credit Severino for making the pitches he needed to make, as he struck them out to keep things close. That was the wake-up call Severino needed as that was the start of eight consecutive hitters being retired to close out his outing as things remained close for the bullpens. Despite the Cubs' offense cooling down after their fast start, they did what they had to do and made the most of their chances. Justin Turner closed out the scoring with a seventh-inning pinch-hit single, making it a 7-4 game. Julian Merryweather, Porter Hodge, and Ryan Pressly closed out the game from there to give the Cubs a 7-4 win. Although the Cubs had a less-than-good offensive night with nine hits, they made the most of them as they scored seven runs. Tucker led the offense with two hits, as did Suzuki, who added a team-high three RBIs. Chicago will go for the sweep Wednesday afternoon as they send Jameson Taillon to the mound against Jeffrey Springs.
