April 18, 2015
Wrigley Field
Chicago, IL
It’s another day game today as the San Diego Padres look to avenge a tough loss to the hosting Chicago Cubs. The Padres have really struggled this year and the Cubs continue to play well, currently residing in third place. Today’s game features Odi Despaigne (1-1 5.14) against Jon Lester (2-0 1.00). The wind is blowing out fairly hard, but will push anything in the air towards left field.
So the Cubs take the field and Justin Upton comes to the plate to face Lester’s first pitch. The first pitch is a fastball and Upton rips this one hard. But Anthony Rizzo makes a great diving one hop stop and takes this one himself for the first out on a great play. B.J. is up next and he strikes out. Yangervis Solarte hits a fly ball to Chris Coghlan in left and the inning is over and the Padres get no runs.
Dexter Fowler leads off for the home team, and Dex has been off to a bad start, but he gets a single to start today. Unfortunately he moved to second on a grounder and was stranded there and we have no score at the end of one inning.
The Padres struggled in the second inning, as Lester stayed with all power pitches and although he did walk Yonder Alonso, he also struck out the other three hitters and the Cubs come to bat in the bottom of the second with no score.
Miguel Montero starts the bottom of the second with a booming double into center field, and unfortunately the strong wind blew it into the power alley instead and it bounces off the wall and the Cubs stocky catcher pulls into second with a double. Unfortunately he is stranded there after some gutsy pitching by Despaigne and we still have no score after two innings.
Lester continues to look sharp, as Despaigne shocks everyone by hitting a one out double that stayed just inside the fair area in left, but after Justin Upton popped up to center and his brother B.J. strikes out and the inning is over and still no score.
The Cubs finally break the deadlock with one out in the bottom of the inning. Lester blooped a single just over short. Fowler flied out to left, and Castro hit a single to left, and Lester had to stay at second. Rizzo hit the 4th pitch of the at bat for a soft single to center and Lester scores the first run of the day. Kris Bryant and Montero are retired and the inning ends with the Cubs on top 1-0.
The visitors come right back in the fourth inning as Solarte gets a single to right to start the inning. Matt Kemp lays down a sac bunt and the runner moves to scoring position. Alonso hits a single to left center and Solarte scores just ahead of the throw, and Alonso moves to second on the throw. Fortunately Lester tames the Padres and the game is tied at one run each as we head to the bottom of the fourth inning.
The Cubs threaten in the bottom half, but Despaigne strands runners on the corners and the score is still 1-1 after four.
Alexi Amarista gives credence to the term “leadoff walks always lead to trouble”. Moving to second on a ground out by pinch hitter Brett Wallace Justin Upton crushes a flat slider and it’s hit high and hard to left field and while the wind pushes this towards the line a bit it stays fair by plenty and the Padres suddenly have a 3-1 lead. Montero comes to the mound for a quick talk and the Padres do no further damage, but now the Cubs have to work from behind.
Frank Garces comes in for the second time this year and after getting two quick outs walks Bryant on four pitches then seems to lose focus against Montero, who drops his second double of the game to right center and the Cubs have cut the lead to one, but that won’t last long as Coghlan gets a hanging curve and this is hit hard to left field for a two run bomb and the Cubs have reclaimed the lead 4-3. Austin Jackson pops up to the third baseman and the inning is over, and now the Padres have to come from behind.
Lester seems pumped up in the sixth and gets a 1-2-3 inning for the first time since the first inning. The Cubs wasted a two out double by Fowler and the Padres still trail by one after six innings.
The Cubs frustrate the Padres again in the seventh inning as Cory Spangenberg reaches on Addison Russell’s error and then stole second, but the Cubs get the third out and the inning is over. Dale Thayer comes in to relieve Garces.
With one out Bryant draws his second walk of the day and moves to second with two out when Coughlin pulls one down the third base line for an RBI double and the Cubs get an insurance run. Jackson walks but Russell strikes out and the inning ends with the Cubs on top 5-3 after seven innings.
Lester and the Cubs get a scare in the top of the eighth inning as B.J. Upton rips a triple into right field to start the inning. Solarte hits a 1-1 fastball towards the right field wall near the bullpen. Jackson makes a great catch just in front of the scrambling bullpen. Upton tags and Austin fires a bullet to Montero with no cut off throw and it’s on the money and Upton is nailed! A rally killing double play! Kemp then grounds out to Castro at second and the Cubs survive a big threat.
The Cubs don’t score in the bottom of the 8th and Hector Rondon comes in to try and save this one, and it’s been a tough season for Hector, he has two saves, but he comes in with a blown save and an 8.18 ERA. Thankfully he gets the side in order and the Cubs win this one 5-3.
Around the horn
The Houston Astros beat the the Anaheim Angels 2-1 in the bottom of the 12th inning on Evan Gattis’ homer.
The Yankees beat the Rays in a 1-0 pitcher’s duel. Michael Pineda of the Yankees was perfect through 4 innings and settled for a 3 hit shutout. On the losing side Jake Odorizzi takes another tough luck loss. This time allowing just 1 run on two hits.
The Texas Rangers thumped the Seattle Mariners last night. Robinson Chirinos went 4-5 and Cole Hamels struck out 10.
The Philadelphia Phillies continue to impress. Despite a 4 D rating rotation they are still in first place with an 8-1 record. The middle three in the order are providing ALL the offense as the rest of the lineup is hitting under .200 at this point. I know it’s early but this could be a real surprise if it lasts.
