The series finale against the Braves has Jon Lester going against 23 year old rookie getting his first start of the season, John Gant. He gets Dexter Fowler to groundout to start the game but ends up walking both Jason Heyward and Kris Bryant. Back in the lineup, Anthony Rizzo gets the first hit off the rookie sending a sharp line drive to right for his 13th double of the season and grabbing 45th RBI of the season. Zobrist and Coghlan would strikeout to end the inning. Lester would almost mirror the top half by getting the lead off man to pop out but gives up back to back singles to Chase d’Arnaud and Freddie Freeman. With Jeff Franceour at the plate a double steal is successfully attempted but with David Ross’s throwing error, d’Arnaud would score to tie the game at 1. The only action in the second is made possible by a Zobrsit throwing error and a fielders choice. In the third, Fowler would get his first hit of the game but that would be all the action for both teams.
Zo would leadoff the fourth with a walk but forced out on Chris Coughlan’s ground ball to second. Javier Baez would attempt to bunt to reach first but would be called out. Maddon would challenge and it would be overturned and he receives a single on the play. David Ross would send a soft fly ball to right scoring Coghlan on an error by Markakis. Lester would drop a sac bunt scoring Baez but Fowler would end the inning on a K. Nick Markakis would get a single in the bottom half and would make it to second on a fielding error by Fowler. Cubs 3, Braves 1.
Jason Heyward would walk to lead off the fifth, Bryant would groundout but that would be all for John Gant. Ian Krol would come in to end the top half of the fifth but would be pinch hit for by Brandon Snyder for a one out double but that would be all for the Braves. Casey Kelly enters the sixth giving up a double to Coughlan who scores on Ross’s single to right. Lester ends the top half with a double play but makes it a 1-2-3 inning. After 6, Cubs up 4 to 1.
After Heyward reached on a double and Bryant walked, Rizzo singles to center scoring Jason. Bryant scores on Ben’s double to left. Kelly intentionally walks Coghlan and is replaced by Alexi Ogando who strikes out Baez but walks Ross giving him his third RBI of the game. Lester grounds out to end the inning. Lester gives up a two out double to Erik Aybar but no runs for the Braves. Chris Withrow enters the game for the Braves striking out Fowler to start the 8th. Heyward singles and Bryant walks again to reach first. Rizzo singles to grab his 47th RBI of the year. Zo singles scoring Bryant for his 38th RBI of the season. Albert Almora enters the game for Coghlan sinlging and grabbing his first RBI of the game. With two men on, Javier Baez cranks his 5th dinger of the year. Hunter Cervenka replaces Withrow to stop the Cubs from adding any more runs to the board. So many changes for the Cubs in the bottom half of the 8th to mention except Adam Warren replaces Lester giving up a lead off single to Ender Inciarte who steals second with Franceour at the plate and then scores on his single to left. Cubs 13, Braves 2.
Cervenka would hold the Cubs to just a single in the top of the ninth to Jason Heyward. Hector Rondon would enter the close out the game making it a quick 1-2-3 ninth.
Today’s win looked like the Cubs in the early part of the season know how to take advantage of inexperienced pitching. Exciting game in HotLanta if you were a Cubs fan. Lester would improve to 8 and 3 dropping his ERA to 1.89 with a WHIP of 0.95. At this pace, he can definitely make his case for the Cy Young Award.
Go Cubs Go!
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