OSS: Arrieta settled down, the Cubs finally drove in a runner in scoring position.
Three up
1. Jake Arrieta walked two batters in the first inning, then rolled the rest of the way, striking out seven and only walking one additional batter in seven innings, all while sporting a magnificent beard. His final pitch hung clown shoes on opposing pitcher Lance Lynn.
(h/t Matt Clapp)
2. Jorge Soler hit a bomb of a triple with one out in the fourth inning, but was stranded there following a Marty-Brennaman-disapproving-walk by Rizzo (he just doesn’t have TWTW) and outs by Castro and Coghlan.
3. Castro later redeemed himself by driving in Rizzo to take the lead. Aside from the triple by Soler, not a lot of offense from anyone on a cold day with both pitchers dealing.
Three Down
1. Lance Lynn had a great start if you look at his statline (6 IP, 1ER, 9K), but a HBP on Rizzo followed by a bad pickoff throw put him in scoring position for Castro to drive in the first run of the Cubs season.
2. Speaking of RISP issues, Cardinals four and five hitters Jhonny Peralta and Matt Adams stranded 13 runners between these two games.
3. Jesse Rogers made a ‘joke’ early in the game that Castro was .000 on the season after not driving in Soler….except he wasn’t. Then of course he said it was a joke and was just talking about RISP, sure. Between the ESPN guys slamming Castro’s focus issues three fucking innings into the season and the beat writers already joke-slagging on him two games into the season, it’s clear who the knives will be out for this year if the Cubs stumble.
Next game:
Friday, 3:10 PM CT at Colorado, Travis Wood vs Tyler Matzek. Thought of heading to this game too but the cheapest ticket was $100 or so because it’s their opener. The next day? $14.
Will the Cubs win: Travis Wood + Coors Field is not a combination that sounds promising.