Game 3 puts Kyle Hendricks up against Madison Baumgardner who gets the first two batters out, Fowler and Rizzo but then hits Kris Bryant. Then gives up a single to Ben Zobrist and loads the bases by walking Jorge Soler. With Addison Russell up to bat, I noticed the Marlins fan sitting behind home plate. Back to the game, Russell gets a hitters count and fowls off a couple but ends up watching strike 3 at the knees. Hendricks would have a similar bottom half but only puts two men on and gets out of the inning with out any damage. From the second through the fourth both men would only give up a hit a piece keeping this pitchers duel going.
The Cubs would go down in order in the top of 5. Kyle would start the bottom half by walking Gregor Polanco with the pitcher spot up next. At first it would appear that he is pitching around Baumgardner as if he’s a power hitter but at this moment he sends a line drive just out of reach for Soler for a double scoring the first run of the night and his first double. Kyle would finsh the inning but Giants are up 1-0. He would come back out for the sixth but after a walk and a pop out, Kyle is replaced by Travis Wood. After giving up a walk, he’d close out the inning and pitch a perfect seventh.
The Cubs would only get a hit in the seventh by Matt Szczur. In the top of the eighth, Baez would pinch hit for Wood and hit a soft bouncer to Brandon Belt who would be out of position and run back forcing Baez to step out of the runners box for an automatic out which didn’t really appear that way. Immediately, Maddon would be out there livid and yelling at the first base umpire telling him he’s f*^%ing better than that. I thought he was going to be tossed. Mad Baum would get one more out and then walk Rizzo prompting Bruce Bochy to pull him for Cory Gearrin who gets Bryant to line out.
Pedro Strop would enter the bottom half getting the first out. With the shift on for Duffy he would knock one down the line just out of Rizzo’s reach. He’d get Posey to watch the third strike and get Brandon Belt to send a grounder right into Rizzo’s glove coincidently touching first base to end the inning.
The Cubs have one more half of an inning to take the series. Santiago Casilla comes in to face Ben Zobrist who would take him deep to the center field warning track roughly 395 feet that Denard Spsn would hop to snag out of the air for the first out. Jorge Soler showing patience would get a full count but would swing at one just below the knees for a strikeout. Addison Russell is 0-3 looking to get his first hit and keep the Cubs alive but would strike out for the fourth time in a row.
Cubs bats seem to have cooled off in May but the pitching has been solid especially in the pen. It’s the Cardinals tomorrow, they need to turn it around.
Sports Time Radio 