Brian Matusz (MATT-iss) is getting his first start of the year and for the Cubs since getting traded to Chicago in May. On the other side of the diamond, getting his first start at Wrigley Field, “The King” Felix Hernandez who was activated from the disabled list eleven days ago.
Brian starts the game off with a leadoff single to Shawn O’Malley then a wild pitch puts Shawn at second bases and would make it to third on Leonys Martin’s sac bunt. Shawn wouldn’t need the help to third as Nelson Cruz would drive him home with his 26th home run of the year. Matusz would load the bases by hitting Kykes Seagar and walking the next two batters but does get the third out in the first.
Brian gets the first two outs of the second but then gives up a single to Leonys Martin. In the first, Robinson Cano strikes out but this at bat he drives in his 23rd home run of the season to put the M’s up by 4. To continue into the third, Brian would give up a one out single and yet again gives up a two run home run this time to Dae-Ho Lee. The Mariners are now up by 6. That would be enough for Maddon as in the top the fourth Carl Edwards, Jr enters the game striking out the side.
The King wouldn’t start off as easy walking Dexter Fowler and Kris Bryant but ends up striking out the rest of the Cubs lineup. Felix would give up his first hit in the top of the fourth to Bem Zobrist but no one would score.
Edwards would have a quick top of the fifth 1-2-3 but not so easy for The King. Chris Coghlan leads off with a walk but is out at second as Miguel Montero forces him out. Felix then loads the bases giving up a single to Fowler and walking Bryant. With two outs, Zobrist gets an RBI walk. The second run of the game happens as Felix hits Addiosn Russell but Heyward strikes out to end the inning.
Joe Nathan enters the game in the walking Dae-Ho Lee and gives up a double to Mike Zunino. Maddon takes the trip to the mound bringing in Travis Wood who loads the bases by walking Seth Smith. He however gets the next here batters out to end the top of the sixth.
Five innings, two runs on two hits would be enough for Felix as Drew Storen enters the game in the bottom of the sixth making it a quick inning.
Pedro Strop joins the game in the top of the seventh but oddly Maddon has Wood take left field. Strop only gives up one hit to Seagar but makes it out of top half with out adding a run. Tom Wilhelmsen steps to the mound to give a leadoff walk to Fowler. He would them score as Zo sends a line drive to center for his first triple of the year. Edwin Diaz enters the game to strike out Russell.
Strop starts the eighth by giving up a double to Zunino who is thrown out by Rizzo trying to reach third on Edwin Diaz’s ground ball. Diaz is then forced out on O’Malley’s grounder to second. Travis Wood comes back to the mound while Matt Szczur takes left field. Wood then ends the inning picking off O’Malley.
Mike Montogmery enters the game for the top of the ninth. He gets the first two outs but gives up back to back singles to Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seagar but gets out of the inning. Steve Cishek is brought in to close out the game for the M’s and give the King a win and starts off striking out Bryant. Rizzo would launch a double to right, his 29th of the year. Zo bumps him up to third with a single and Russell would bring him home with single of his own to left. Cishek them loads the bases by hitting Jason Heyward. With one out Wilson Contreras sends a ground ball to Seagar at third, he throws to Cano to start the double play but Cano’s throw to first is late. The Mariners challenge but the call stands and Cubs score a run to put them down by one. Cishek ties the game up for the Cubs with a wild pitch that scores Russell. Matt Szcuzr’s flyout sends into extra innings.
For the tenth inning, Aroldis Chapman retires all three batters. Hector Rondon takes the eleventh and twelfth innings retiring all six batters. Cody Martin finishes the game for the Mariners retiring the first six batters but starts the twelfth giving a leadoff double to Jason Heyward. He advances to third on Contreras’s flyout to center. With one out, Maddon decides to have Jon Lester pinch hit for Rondon. It pays off as Lesters looks to be swinging away but at the last moment drops a bunt to the first base side, soft enough that Cishek only has time to scoop it up and toss it with his glove but it’s not in time as Heyward scores in late night walk off fashion.
Go Cubs Go!
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