The first place Cubs are back in the friendly confines to begin a six game home series starting with the last place Milwaukee Brewers. However, with tonight’s starting pitcher’s records, you’d think they were on their respective teams opponents. 1-2 Kyle Hendricks faces 3-1, Jimmy Nelson. Should be interesting for Cubs hitters with Jimmy in, either they’ll strike out several times or knock bombs off him. The wind should be blowing out for another W.
I was wrong by game time, the wind was actually blowing in from right. Well here we go. Hendricks would start off with a 1-2-3 inning but would walk the first batter of the second, Chris Carter. He would end up at third on Kirk Nieuwenhuusdouvle to center. Aaron Hill would send a fly ball to left scoring Carter on a sac fly. That would be the only run Kyle would give up. He’d strike out four walk one and only give up one more hit through five.
Nelson would cruise through four innings with out much damage but it would be the fifth, where he’d lead off Soler with a walk, Russell would single and David Ross would move them over with a sac bunt. Madden would pinch hit for Hendricks. Tommy La Stella would walk, loading the bases. Fowler would send Soler across the plate with a sac fly to center. Heyward would ground out to end the inning.
Adam Warren would cruise through the sixth and seventh inning retire all six batters he faced. In the bottom of the sixth, Bryant would reach on an error and would move over to second on a Ben Zobrist walk. Carlos Torres would come into the game getting Soler to fly out but would give up a triple to center field scoring both Bryant and Zobrist. Cubs up 3-1.
Javier Baez would lead off the bottom of the seventh with a single to center and would be called out trying to steal second. The Cubs would challenge and it would be over turned. Bryant would walk, then Rizzo would double scoring Baez, putting the Cubs up 4-1, giving Adam Warren a chance at the W.
A bunch of changes would happen but basically Pedro Strop would come into the eighth with not his best stuff. He’d walk Aaron Hill and on the next batter throw a wild pitch advancing Hill, who would end up at third on a ground out. He would walk Colin Walsh, setting up pinch hitter Ryan Braun, who would double to right. Strop would make it interesting but would get a strike out before Travis Wood would come in to finish the inning.
Michael Blazek would make it an exciting bottom of the eighth by loading the bases but would ultimately end the inning with out any more runs. Hector Rondon would come into close out the game searching for his fourth save of the season. He would get through the first two batters no problem but would give up a single to Nieuwenhuis but would end the game with a deep pop out to Kris Bryant who was transitioned to left field.
I predicted that Jimmy Nelson would get strikeouts or throw home runs. With the wind blowing in, home runs weren’t in abundance but he did get six K’s in 5 1/3 innings. Hendricks would only go 5 innings with a no decision. Aside from Strops trouble, the Cubs bullpen would finish the Brewers off taking the first game of the series. Tommorow/today, whenever you read this, MLB player of the week and Mr Two-NoHitter Arrieta takes to the rubber, can he make it three???
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