Wrigley Field
Chicago, IL
May 2, 2015
Fresh off of last night’s victory the Cubs face the Brewers in the second game of this series. Today sees Jorge Lopez and Jon Lester match up. Lester, fresh off a solid performance last time makes quick work of the Brewers and the Cubs come to bat in the bottom of the inning. Dexter Fowler, who has suddenly remembered how to hit lately gets a single on the very first pitch of the game. Dex is off with the pitch and Starlin Castro rips a double into left that scores the runner. Anthony Rizzo gets a inside fastball and he hits this one hard. It’s high and deep and hits off the wall for another double that scores Castro.
Kris Bryant strikes out for the first out of the inning. Miguel Montero slaps a single to left and another run scores. Chris Coghlan draws a walk to put runners on first and second. Lopez calms down and gets the next two batters and the inning ends with the Cubs on top 3-0.
The Brewers had a chance in the second inning, but the Cubs defense, which has been much worse than expected so far finally comes into play Adam Lind hits a single to left, and Jonathan Lucroy rips a hard grounder to Starlin Castro who makes a nice toss to Javy Baez at short, who fires the throw to Rizzo for a rally killing double play. Ryan Gennett then hits a bullet down the third base line, but Bryant makes a terrific diving stop and throws him out on a bang bang play at first to end the inning.
Both pitchers then take control for a while and the Cubs then strike again in the bottom of the fourth inning. Austin Jackson draws a leadoff walk and after a single by Baez puts runners on first and third. Lester moves the runner to second while Jackson holes third and he scores on a ground out by Fowler. The inning ends with the Cubs on top 4-0.
Nothing changed until the top of the sixth inning when Bryant boots a grounder by Jean Segura, who then steals second base with two out. Ryan Braun hits a single up the middle to score the first run of the day for Milwaukee. Khris Davis flies out but the Brewers have cut the lead to 4-1 in the of the sixth inning.
Chicago gets the run right back in the bottom of the inning when Lester hits a soft single to left with one out. Corey Knebel, who has come in relief of Lopez then loses command suddenly and walks Fowler and Castro to load the bases. Rizzo hits another deep blast, but this one to center field that is caught at the wall and Jackson scores. Bryant hits into an inning ending double play, but the score is now 5-1 Cubs on top after six innings.
Things remained the same until the top of the eight inning when Domingo Santana pinch hits for Knebel and hits an epic blast onto Sheffield Avenue on a Lester fastball. Jon settles down though and gets the next two hitters and the inning ends with Chicago on top 5-2, which is how the game ended as neither team added anything.
Around the horn:
Christian Bergman of the Rockies tosses a 3 hit shutout against the Padres in San Diego
Nathan Evoldi strikes out 11 as the Yankees beat the Red Sox 9-4
Minnesota’s Eddie Rosario hits a GW HR in bottom of 9th inning atainst the White Sox
Jake Odorizzi ties record with 7 straight K’s in Baltimore. The Orioles still win 6-1
