Tonight, Maddon did it again after six innings but there was one crucial difference: I agreed with Hammel. And invariably, the lanky pitcher would get upset with the decision. And the one who could appreciate it the most was Contreras who was already standing on first base with a single and an RBI as if to say “I guess we’re still trailing in style points”.
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No bad for a guy pegged to be the No. 5 starter this season who reached double-digit wins for the first time in his career. If Jose Fernandez is an underdog, I’m interested. Fowler went 3-for-4, scored twice, and stole a base.
And Contreras threw out Dee Gordon stealing second in the fifth.
First was the opportunity to expand the Cubs’ 3-0 lead, with two runners on and two out.
Phillies 13, Giants 8 • Aaron Altherr had a homer and five RBIs, Maikel Franco homered and went four for four and host Philadelphia used a five-run eighth inning to beat San Francisco in a wild game.
“He was outstanding”, manager Joe Maddon said. “Dexter got the whole thing rolling”.
“He was involved in nearly everything tonight”, Maddon said of Fowler.
The Cubs got Marlins ace Fernandez on the ropes early and while they didn’t really get in a knockout punch, being able to score multiple runs off a legit Cy Young candidate and not letting him off the hook was a positive sign.
Miami Marlins’ Ichiro Suzuki walks toward the batting cages before the team’s baseball game against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
“It’s very big”, Maddon said. “So you take your best shot”. “And we did. We maximized our scoring opportunities with him”.
Lackey allowed seven hits and three runs in seven innings while striking out eight. He delivered just 80 pitches, but was pulled for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the sixth with the bases loaded and the team hoping to tack on runs.
The Marlins are 1-10 in their last 11 Wednesday starts from Koehler, 2-5 in their last seven Wednesday games overall and 6-0 in their last six games after dropping the first two of a series while the Cubs are 6-1 in their last seven overall, 4-1 in their last five against the NL East, and 61-27 in their last 88 home games.
This is gratifying to see, because of Hammel’s well-known previous issues in the second halves of seasons. In the next at-bat against Willson Contreras, Ramos whiffed a wild pitch wide left of the plate, allowing Matt Szczur to scoot in for the game-winning run. Fernandez starts against Jason Hammel, who should put little fear into bettors. His first game back against the Brewers right from the get-go. It’s hard to sweep any team, nevertheless one that is fighting for a wild card spot.
CHICAGO (AP) – The winning rally lacked a signature hit, and that was just fine with the Chicago Cubs.
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We’re entering the third season of the annual South Point-lined Play of the Day competition, effective July 1.
