John Lester seeks to get his second win of the season on the road at Great American Park against 24 year-old Jon Moscot. Moscot would get out of the first unscathed but would walk Heyward and Rizzo. Javier Baez would lead off the second with a single, he would steal second and advance to third on a ground out by Addison Russel. David Ross would send a sac fly to right scoring Baez. Moscot would get out of the inning and get through the third no problem.
Anthony Rizzo would lead off the fourth with his sixth home run of the year that would go about 10 rows up into right field. Ben Zobrist would walk but would be forced out by Baez’s ground ball to short. Russell sends a ground ball to right advanceing Baez to third. David Ross would take one for the team and lay down a bunt scoring Javi. Moscot would make a throwing error advancing Russell to third. John Lester would copy Ross and also lay down a sac bunt, scoring Russell. After four innings the Cubs would be up 4-0.
John Lester would cruise through the first five innings giving up one walk and three singles and with the help of Javier Baez’s stellar defense would get through those innings with out a run. He would give up a lead off home run to Zachary Cozart, his first of the year in the sixth. He would finish up the sixth and make it through seven innings. Through seven, he would give up five hits, one walk and one earned run with four K’s on the night.
Pedro Strop would come into the eighth knocking them down in order. J.J. Hoover would come into the top of the ninth, to ho,d the Cubs from scoring any more runs. He would throw a curve ball to Baez, who would send a line drive to left, cracking his first home run of the season. Russell and Ross would get two outs in the ninth. Tommy La Stella would pinch hit for Strop singling to right. Fowler would get his first hit of the night on a double to center, scoring Tommy. Jason Heyward would send his third double of the season to right field. Kris Bryant would also hit a double scoring Heyward. The Reds would bring in Ross Olendorf to try and get the last out on Anthony Rizzo. He would get him to pop up shortstop.
Justin Grimm would come into the ninth with an 8-1 lead, hoping for a quick ninth inning. He would get Eugenio Suarez to ground out on four pitches but would hit Joey Votto. 0-3, Brandon Phillips would send a quick shot back to Grimm, advancing Votto, but not hard enough to get the hit. Devin Mesoraco would come up with two outs and send a line drive to Russell ending the game giving the Cubs their twelfth win of the season and Lester his second win of the season.
With eight days left in the month and seven games left, I cannot remember the last I have seen the Cubs off to a start like this. It was exciting to watch Sammy Sosa and Moises Alou, Derick Lee and Aramis Ramirez, Kerry Wood and Mark Prior but I cannot remember seeing a team like this. This is a team that Theo builds, a mixture of youth and veterans. It’s exciting but I hope it’s not just #ItsOnlyApril.
Sports Time Radio 