OSS: All the double plays! Three up: The Cubs defense turned seven double plays in this one, which tied a MLB record, including one to end the game. Six were on the ground, and the Cubs also got a lineout DP to end the eighth. They have an okay defense this year, I guess. It must have been stupid frustrating …
Cubs 1, Pirates 0
OSS: Jon Lester bounces back in a big way. Three up: Jon Lester threw his first scoreless start in over a month and a half, giving up five hits and striking out eight in six innings. The strikeouts are great, perhaps even more encouraging is the lack of walks. More of this would sure be nice. Ian Happ provided all …
Cubs 4, Nationals 3
OSS: Bote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Three up: David Bote hit a walkoff grand slam to dead center and turned a shutout into a win. Bote’s homer was worth .901 WPA, which is about as big as it can get in a single PA. If WPA took into account the fact that he had two strikes at the time, it would be even bigger. …
Cubs 3, Royals 1
OSS: Javy Baez doing Jazy Baez things. Three up: Javy Baez continues to do it all. In this game he hit his 25th HR of the year to give the Cubs the lead in the sixth, then doubled in an insurance run in the eighth. He also made a spectacular diving play at third base, snagging a liner right on …
Cubs 9, Pirates 2
OSS: Cole Hamels strikes out nine in his Cubs debut. Three up: It wasn’t the most efficient start, but Cole Hamels struck out nine Pirates in five innings in his first appearance in a Cubs uniform. He also picked up his first hit as a Cub as the team jumped all over the Pirates pitchers early. Hamels allowed one unearned …
Cubs 7, Cardinals 2
OSS: Three out of five ain’t bad. Three up: Jose Quintana gutted out seven innings and allowed just two runs, which was just what the bullpen needed after a couple of early hooks and a doubleheader in this series. Kyle Schwarber had the biggest hit in this game, a solo shot in the sixth inning that gave the Cubs the …
Cubs 9, Cardinals 6
OSS: Cubs bats break it open in the fifth. Three up: Jason Heyward had a solid day against his old team, racking up three hits and two clutch RBI singles in the early innings. He also purloined his first stolen base of the year. I’m guessing the events of the last week or two have been a nice reminder that …
Cubs 7, Padres 4
OSS: The Cubs head into the All-Star break on a sweep. Three up: The Cubs chased another bad starter early, which is what good teams do. Unlike yesterday’s home run barrage, the Cubs strung together a ton of singles and walks (and a HBP or two) and just two XBH to score seven runs. Javy Baez’s first inning RBI single …
Cubs 11, Padres 6
OSS: Everything’s coming up Milhouse. Three+ up: The Cubs offense took care of business against an opposing starting pitcher with a 7+ ERA. Schwarber, Baez, and Happ all went yard in this one, and at least this time Javy’s homer counted. Schwarber’s bomb was to the opposite field, which was also great to see. Baez also hit a two run …
Cubs 2, Giants 0
OSS: Aggressive Cubs baserunning is just enough to snag the inverted M. Three up: It was a scoreless and speedy affair most of the night, and the Cubs took the lead after Russell took third on a wild pitch and aggressively dashed home after an errant throw. Russell was on second to begin with thanks to even more aggressive baserunning …