Posts Tagged ‘Chicago Cubs’

John Lackey looks to stay above .500 with another win to go into the All Star break on a good note.  Jonathon Niese would get the start for the Pirates and immediately get the ball rolling for the Cubs with singles to lead off man Ben Zobrist, then on one out to Anthony Rizzo and to load the bases Wilson Contreras.  Addison Russell would also smack a single but this one gives him two RBI’s.  Lackey would only give up one single in the bottom half. After the 1st, Cubs 2-0.

Cubs would go down quick in the top of the 2cd but Lackey would allow a solo home run to star off the bottom half to Sean Rodriguez.  Adam Frazier singles and scores on Eric Fryer’s one out double to left.  With two outs, John Jaso sends a line drive to right scoring Fryer.  The Pirates are now up 3-2.  

Kris Bryant stars off the 3rd with a walk and advances to third on Rizzo’s double to right.  Contreras would ground out to first but drives in Bryant to tie the game at 3.  Andrew McCutchen would lead off the bottom half of the 3rd with a solo home run to take the lead.  

The back and forth of leads would stop in the top of the 4th, after Albert Almora, Jr launches his 2cd home run of the season driving in Baez to take the lead, 5-4.  Niese would then give up back to back singles to Bryant and Rizzo prompting his removal for Arquimedes Caminero to end the inning.  

Lackey would make it to the 7th walking Josh Bell and giving up a single to John Jaso.  With no outs, Maddon brings in Pedro Strop.  He gets the first out and the second out from McCutchen but is scored as a sac fly to tie the game at 5.  

Pirates set up man, Tony Watson enters the game and immediately strikes out Almora but gives up a double to Matt Szcuzr.  Zo pops out on a bunt.  With two outs Bryant’s sends a line drive to left scoring Szczur for the Cubs to take the lead again giving Watson a blown save.  

Carl Edwards, Jr and Hector Rondon take the last two innings of the game for the hold and save as Strop is awarded the W with a blown save.  Lackey would go six innings giving up five runs on seven hits but strikes out nine only walking two.  Not the greatest outing but with the bats hitting and the bullpen holding, the Cubs take a game from the Pirates putting their lead at 7 above the second place Cardinals.   
Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

The Podcast now on Tunein.com, Download the app today and follow us or Apple users can download us in the Podcast app today!

The Cubs have just dropped five games and the first the series against division rival Pittsburgh Pirates.  Jon Lester gets the nod looking for his first win since June 18th with the Pirates in Chicago.  He’s also looking to have a better start since July 3 when he only went 1 & 1/3 innings.   With just his third start for the Bucs, Chad Kuhl is looking for his second win of his young career but it would not start off smoothly with a one out walk to Kris Bryant who would score on Ben Zobrist putting the Cubs up by 2 in the first.  

Lester would get through the the 1st with a walk to David Freese but gets out of it quick with a ground out double play.  He would then start the 2cd off with a walk to Jung Ho Kang, then a single to Starling Marte, then another walk to Sean Rodriguez.  He give the Bucs their first run by hitting Josh Harrison.  Eric Fryer would send a fly ball to center, scored as a sac fly scoring Marte.  With Kuhl in the box, Wilson Contreras would attempt a pick off a throwin error would allow Sean to score the third run of the inning, Bucs up by 1.  

Anthony Rizzo starts off the 3rd with a triple.  Wilson would make up for the run he gave to the Bucs by driving Rizzo home on a ground ball between short and third.  Jason Heyward bumps him up to second as he singles to left.  With an early pitching change, Juan Nicasio enters the game and it would be Javier Baez with two outs drives in Wilson to take the lead by 1.  

Lester starts the 3rd off by giving up a lead off home run to Andrew McCutchen to tie the game.  Sean Rodriguez with two outs, also smacks a solo shot to left center but he gets out of the inning.  Pirates 5-4.

Juan gives up a leadoff double to Bryant that scores on Rizzo’s line drive double to right.  Arauimedes Caminero would enter the game to close out the top half.  Lester would be pulled for Adam Warren ho gives up a single and a walk and it would be McCuthen’s single that brings in both base runners to put the Bucs up by 2.  

Caminero strikes out the side in the 5th.  In the bottom half, Warren would load the bases walking Marte, intentionally walking Matt Joyce and a single to Eric Fryer.  Josh Bell Would enter the game pinch hitting for Caminero.  On a 1-1 count, Bell would take Warren out of the park and into the Alleghany River for a Grand Slam for his first major league home run.  Jody Mercer would follow with a solo shot to add to the lead, 12-5 Bucs.  

A.J. Schugel would enter the game waking Bryant who advances to third on Rizzo’s single and scores on Zo’s double play ground ball. Bucs 12-6.  

Spencer Patton, Justin Grimm and Hector Rondon each take an inning each seeing three batters with Rondon striking out the side.  

The Cubs would get a base runner in each of the last three innings but no one crosses the plate or brings them within reach to winning.  The Pirates move to second place putting themselves within 6.5 games.  The Cubs need a W on Sunday and to be honest, need the All Star break off to gather themselves but maybe the festivities can be a good change of pace for them breaking up the recent string of losses this month.   

Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

The Podcast now on Tunein.com, Download the app today and follow us or Apple users can download us in the Podcast app today!

The Cubs are not starting the month of July very well losing six out of the last seven games and hope to break the streak with a trip to Pittsburgh.  Jake Arrieta takes on the Pirates Ace, Francisco Liriano.

Jake would start off great striking out the first two batters and getting it out of the first 1-2-3 but the not so lucky in the 2cd giving up a lead off home run to David Freese.  Starling Marte would reach on a single and score on Sean Rodriguez’s eighth home run of the season.  Pirates 3-0.

Through 3 innings, the Cubs would have 5 base runners but it’s not until the 4th when Jason Heyward would smack his first triple of the year and scores on Javier Baez’s ground out.  It wouldn’t be until the 6th,when Heyward would reach again on a single.  He would score again but this time on Miguel Montero’s 5th home run of the season to tie the game at 3.  Anthony Rizzo would put the Cubs in the lead in the top of the 7th with his 21st dinger of the year.  Cubs 4-3.

But Jake would tie the game back up in the bottom of the 7th with John Jaso’s single to left scoring Adam Frazier.  Travis Wood enters the game.  Gregory Polanco would send a grounder to Rizzo who throws a wild won to Wood that gets passed him allowing Josh Bell to score and the Bucs to take the lead.  Carl Edwards, Jr would enter the game giving up a single to Andrew McCutchen adding another one to the board.  Starling Marte would add another run scoring Eric Fryer.  Edwards gets out of the inning.   Pirates 7, Cubs 4.

Trevor Cahill enters the 8thand walks the first 2 batters to load them by hitting Andrew McCutchen.  With David Freese at the plate, Cahill throws a wild one allowing Matt Joyce to score.  Pirates 8-4.

A.J. Schugel enters the game to get the first two outs but Bryant reaches on a single and moves to 2cd.  Rizzo would reach on a walk.  With two out and and two on, Wilson Contreras up at the plate to give the Cubs a chance to rally but he’d go down swinging to end the game.

Tonight would be the first time since June 17 for him to go passed 5 innings.  With 6 innings, he gives up 6 earned runs on 9 hits.  He gives up only 1 walk but strikes out 6 for his 4th loss of the year.

Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

The Podcast now on Tunein.com, Download the app today and follow us or Apple users can download us in the Podcast app today!

Today’s make up game between the Cubs and Atlanta Braves starts late due to rain.  The game gets under way with Jason Hammel taking to the mound against 31 year-old Lucas Harrell making his second start of the season looking for his second win of the year.

Well I wrote everything last night and I didn’t save which is very disappointing to say the least.  So here’s a quick recap.  The Cubs would be held to no runs and four hits by Lucas who makes it 7 and 2/3 innings but after hitting Kris Bryant would be pulled from the game.  Hunter Cevenka comes and hits Anthony Rizzo the Zobrist doubles driving in Kris.  Jim Johnson enters the game to give up a two RBI triple to Wilson Contreras to put the Cubs up by 1.  

Jason Hammel would give up a two run homer in the first to Nick Markakis but would only make it 5 innings.  Wood, Hendricks and Grimm would help preserve it to 2 runs for the Braves but it would be Hector Rondon who blows the save giving up a solo home run to Markakis in the top of the 9th.  He’d close out the 9th and Spencer Patton would enter for extra innings receiving the loss after 11 innings.  With two men on he gives up a single to Tyler Flowers that scores Freddie Freeman for the win.  We wrap up the first half with the Pirates.  

Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

The Podcast now on Tunein.com, Download the app today and follow us or Apple users can download us in the Podcast app today!

It hasn’t been the greatest series for the Cubs.  Adam Warren moves out of the bullpen and gets his first start of the season and for the Cubs despite having a couple wins.  He would be going against Anthony DeSclafani.

Adam Warren would perform greatly but be taken out after 5 innings.  He would give up only 1 run and it comes in the 1st inning as Zach Cozart would start the game with a lead off home run.  He would give up only two more hits that came in the second inning with singles to Brandon Phillips and Jose Peraza.  The next 3 innings would be lights out for the Reds.

Addison Russell would start the Cubs scoring off in the 2cd driving in Tommy La Stella on a double.  He would score the 2cd run off of Miguel Montero’s single.  The 5th inning would see Ben Zobrist smacking his 12th home run of the year.

The Cubs would only see 3 more base runners after the 5th inning but no more runs.  Through 5, it would be Cubs 3, Reds 1.

Trevor Cahill would enter the 6th almost striking out the side but walks Joey Votto in between.  He would get the first out in the 7th but gives up singles to Brandon Phillips and Jose Peraza who steals 2cd base with Tucker Barnhart at the plate.  Tucker launches his 3rd home run for 3 runs putting the Red sup by 1.  Cahill gets out of the inning but is pulled in the 8th for Carl Edwards, Jr.

Carl starts the 8th off getting the 1st out but walks Adam Duvall. He gets the 2cd out but gives up a single to Brandon Phillips pushing Duvall up to 3rd.  Carl would have the unfortunate luck of throwing a wild pitch scoring Duvall.

There would be no more runs passed this inning and the Cubs would lose the series to the Reds.

Thursday will see the Braves in town for a make up game.  Then it’s off to Pittsburgh before the All Star break.

Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

The Podcast now on Tunein.com, Download the app today and follow us or Apple users can download us in the Podcast app today!

The Cubs bounced back after being swept by the Mets, coming back to dominate the Reds yesterday, 10 to 4.  John Lackey heads to the mound hoping to improve to 8 and 4 against southpaw Brandon Finnegan.  However, it wouldn’t be that kind of day for Lackey as he’d get the loss in 6 full innings.  

It would start off bad for John in the first with a 1 out walk to Billy Hamilton who steals 2cd.  Then walks Joey Votto.  With Jay Bruce at the plate, a passed ball credited to David Ross allows Bily to score the 1st run with Votto to 3rd.  Bruce would also reach on a walk.   Both Jay’s score on Brandon Phillips 2 out line drive to left but the Cubs get Bruce out on the throw to 3rd.  Reds 2-0.

In the top of the 2cd, with Eugenio Suarez on 1st, Finnegan forces him out at 2cd but he scores on Zach Cozart’s home run to left center.  They score yet again with 2 outs in the top of the 3rd when Ramon Cabrera doubles to right scoring Suarez.  The 6th run comes in the top of the 4th after Zach Cozart scores on a sac fly by Joey Votto.  

The Cubs would score in the 3rd with 3 home runs.  2 would be solo home runs by Javier Baez and Kris Bryant.  Anthony Rizzo would walk and score on Addison Russell’s 10th home run of the year.  Russell would smack his 11th home run of the year and second of the day in the bottom of the 5th.  Finnegan wouldn’t make it to the 6th as Lackey did but he leaves with the win opportunity.  After 5, it’s Reds 6, Cubs 5.

The top of the 7th would see the Reds add to thier lead with Travis Wood at the mound.  He gives up a double to Billy and scores on Votto’s double to left.  Reds 7, Cubs 5.   

The top of the 9th, Maddon would bring in Pedro Strop enter the game and get the first out but walks Joey Votto who comes home on Jay Bruce’s 18th home run of the year.  Tony Cingrani enters the bottom of the 9th and mows through Bryant, Rizzo and Contreras to end the game with the Reds winning 9 to 5.  

Tomorrow is the rubber match, here’s to the Cubs taking the series.  

Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

The Podcast now on Tunein.com, Download the app today and follow us or Apple users can download us in the Podcast app today!

We start the second half half of the season in Wrigley Filed with the Cubs taking on the Cincinnati Reds with Kyle Hendricks heading to the mound taking on Cody Reed looking for his first win of the season.  Kyle would go 5 and 1/3 innings giving up only  4 hits and his first and only run in the 6th inning after he is taken out out of the games with two men on.  Carl Edwards, Jr enters the game to get Adam Duvall to flyout scoring Joey Votto credited to Kyle.  Carl would close out the 6th which would end his time in the game.

The Cubs bounce back after being swept by the Mets early on Independence Day.  Kris Bryant receives a one out walk and Wilson Contreras is hit with 2 outs.  Addison Russell sends a line drive to left scoring Bryant.  Then Jason Heyward sends his own 2 out line drive to left scoring 2 more runs.  The Reds decide to intentionally walk Cubs rookie Jeimer Candelario to get to Hendricks who strikes out.  Cubs 3-0.

In the 2cd, Javier Baez would reach with 1 out on a fielding error by Brandon Phillips.  Kris Bryant drives him home with his 24th home run of the season.  Wilson Contreras launches his 5th home run of the season.  Reed gets out of the inning, but the Cubs are up 6-0.

The 4th inning would see Baez singling on 1 out and moves to second on Bryant’s walk.  Antony Rizzo would move them both up by getting hit.  Contreras’s ground ball would force Baez out at home.  With bases loaded, Addison would send a sharp ground ball to third that goes through his legs after hitting his glove for an error scoring Bryant and Rizzo.  Cubs 8-0.

Josh Smith enters the 6th inning giving up a leadoff single to Rizzo who scores on Russell’s 9th home run of the season.  Blake Wood enters the games to give up a single but gets out of the inning.

Travis Wood enters the game in the 7th and gets the 1st 2 outs but gives up a single to Ivan De Jesus and then a home run to Zack Cozart and a solo home run to Eugenio Suarez to redeem himself on the earlier fielding error.

Pedro Strop enters the 8th giving up a single to Jay Bruce but gets out the inning quickly.  The bottom half would see Jason Heyward called out on a ground ball but with Maddon challenging, the call would be overturned.  With 1 out, Maddon would pinch hit for Strop with Jason Hammel?  Hammel gets a single but Russ Ohlendorf who entered the game for the Reds in the 8th  gets out of the inning.

Hector Rondon would enter the top of the 9th to finish the game and close out the game and gets the first batter to ground out on the 1st pitch.  De Jesus would smack a single to get on base.  On his 5th pitch of the inning, Zack Cozart would send a ground ball to Addison Russell to Javier Baez to Rizzo for a game ending double play.

Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

The Podcast now on Tunein.com, Download the app today and follow us or Apple users can download us in the Podcast app today!

We are just about half way through the season and Jake Arrieta is seeking lucky number 13 against Bartolo Colon as the Cubs are looking to split the series.  Jake would not start off the he would like walking rookie Brandon Nimmo.  Neil Walker would step in the box and launch his 15th home run of the season putting the Mets up by 2 after the 1st.  Yoenis Cespedes would double but Jake gets out of the inning.  Jake bounces back striking out the first batter in the second and retiring all 3 batters.

The Cubs would get the best of Colon in the top of the 4th, with a lead off single by Kris Bryant who makes it home to tie the game at 2 with Anthony Rizzo’s 20th home run of the season.

Jake would run into trouble again in the 4th, giving up a lead off single to to Asdrubal Cabrera then walks De Aza.  Two men on, one out for Travis d’Arnaud who sends a shallow pop up to kid center that gets passed Baez and drops in between all fielders to score Cabrera and De Aza.

He would get the first batter in the top of the 6th out but gives up back to back singles to Alejandro De Aza and Travis d’Arnaud.  That would be enough for Maddon as he brings Travis Wood in to finish the inning for Arrieta.

Erik Goeddel would enter the game in the 7th and gets the first 2 batters out but gives up a solo home run to Bem Zobrist to bring the Cubs with in 1.

After the 7th, both bullpens would stop each team from adding any more runs, even worse for the Cubs, no runs.  Jeurys Familia would grab his 28th save of the season, moving the Mets closer to sweeping the Cubs, just like last years post season.

Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

The Podcast now on Tunein.com, Download the app today and follow us or Apple users can download us in the Podcast app today!

We’re a couple days off from being half way through the season. The Cubs are looking to come back after losing late last night to the Mets.  Jason Hammel is looking for his 8th win of the season and he can, if the bats are flying tonight in Citi Field.  The Cubs hitters are facing Jacob deGrom, who is looking for just his 4th W of the season.

After a rain delay, the game got under way to a quick start for both pitchers deGrom would walk Kris Bryant in the first but strikes out 4 batters in the first 2 innings.  Hammel gets through the first quickly but gives up back to back home runs to James Loney and Asdrubal Cabrera to start the second but gets out of the inning.  As the 3rd inning starts, the rain would start lightly but begin to pour causing another delay over an hour.  Mets 2-0.

Hammel would lead off the 3rd for a quick top half of the inning. He would start the bottom half strongly getting the first 2 outs but gives up a single to Neil Walker then walks Yoenis Cespedes. Two men on for James Loney who sends a screamer to center field for a double scoring 2 more runs.  Mets now up by 4.

With one out in the 4th, Kris Bryant would launch a solo home run to the second deck to finally put the Cubs on the board.  Hammel would strikeout the first batter in the bottom of the fourth but walks Wilmer Flores, them gives up a single to Travis d’Arnaud.  Jacob moves them both up on a sac bunt.  Brandon Nimmo would launch his 1st home run of the season.  Mets up 7-1.

Hammel ends the top of 5th with a line out.  He starts the bottom half with a lead off home run to Cespedes, then a single to Loney who is now 3 for 3.  Asdrubal would bring him in with his 10th home run of the season.  That would be enough for Maddon as he brings in Spencer Patton to get out of the inning.  Mets 10-1.

The top of the 6th starts off great for the Cubs with Albert Almora getting a single then moves to 2cd on Matt Szczur’s single to left.  But with Heyward at the plate, the rain would come down again causing yet another delay.  Hopefully for the Cubs, the game isn’t called.

After the delay, Terry Collins would bring Jerry Blevins in to replace deGrom to get the next 3 batters out.  Trevor Cahill enters the bottom half giving up a single but gets out of the inning quickly.  

Hansel Robles enters the 8th, giving a lead off double to Wilson Contreras who makes it to 3rd on a passed ball.  Addison Russell brings him home on a sac fly for the Cubs.  That’s all the action, Cubs 2, Mets 10.  Cahill stays in for the 7th putting one man on but gets out of the inning.  

Jason Heyward is the only one to reach base in the top of the 8 against Seth Lugo.  Trevor Cahill stays in putting 2 runners on but gets out of the inning.  

Seth Lugo stays in the top of the 9th giving up a single to Baez then hits Russell.  Maddon would leave Cahill in to bat, watching the third strike and Almora would pop out to end the inning and the game.  

Not the best outing for Hammel going only 4 innings giving up 10 runs on 9 hits.  That’s 2 for the Mets with 2 to go.  

Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

The Podcast now on Tunein.com, Download the app today and follow us or Apple users can download us in the Podcast app today!

Last night took them into 15 innings and today is the early afternoon start and then it’s off to New York for 4 but not before Kyle Hendricks takes to the mound in hopes of helping the Cubs sweep the Reds and getting his 6th win of the season jumping to a .500 record against 23-year-old rookie Cody Reed searching for his 1st win of the season.

Ben Zobrist would start the game off with reaching on a bunt back to Cody and would make it to 3rd on Kris Bryant’s line drive to center.  With two men on, Anthony Rizzo would send a deep fly ball to left center bouncing off of Adam Duvall’s glove smacking Billy Hamilton in the face, the ball gets away from them allowing Rizzo a 3 run inside the park home run to put the Cubs up.  This play would pull Billy out of the game to be replaced by Brock Holt.

Zo would then lead off the 3rd with another single but this time to center field.  He would score his 2cd run of the game when Wilson Contreras sends a two out double to center for his 1st RBI of the day and then grabs his first run of the day when Javier Baez sends a sharp ball to center.  Cubs up by 5.

Addison Russell would lead off the 4th inning on a 1-0 count and sends a fly ball to left center field for a solo home run to add to the Cubs lead.  Kyle Hendricks grounds out for the first out of the inning but after taking 2 pitches Albert Almora would smack his first home run of the season to right center.  Kris Bryant would get a single but that would be all the scoring for the Cubs that inning.

Hendricks would offer up a quality start making it into the 7th inning with two outs to go.  He would strike out 5, walks 2 and gives up only 2 runs on 8 hits.  Adam Duvall would get the first run for the Reds smacking his 22cd home run of the season to left field.  With one out and Eugenio Suarez on third and Tucker Barnhart on second, Zack Cozart would ground out but Suarez would score.  Cubs 7-2.

The top of the 7th would see the Cubs score thier last two runs of the game.  With one out, Baez would smack his 10th double of the year scoring then on Matt Szczur’s single to center.  Russell would walk and advance to 2cd with Matt to 3rd on a passed ball by Keyvius Sampson who enterd the game in the 5th.  Hendricks would lay down a perfect sac bunt to the 1st base side of the diamond scoring Szczur.  Cubs up 9-2.

As I stated earlier, Kyle went 6 & 2/3 innings.  Justin Grimm finishes the 7th but not before loading the bases with a single and two walks. Carl Edwards, Jr would finish the last two innings giving up 1 walk and striking out 2.  

A sweep for the Cubs!

Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

The Podcast now on Tunein.com, Download the app today and follow us or Apple users can download us in the Podcast app today!