Chapman earned his first save for the Cubs since being acquired from the Yankees, leaving the crowd buzzing by consistently throwing 102 miles per hour.
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Sale (14-4) allowed six hits and worked out of other jams, but John Lackey (8-7) outpitched him and Aroldis Chapman got the final four outs to save his first game for the Cubs. Manager Joe Maddon said Thursday the Cubs were weighing their options trying make the transition for Chapman – who doesn’t speak English – more seamless.
Sale faced dozens of reporters after the game, heaping praise on his teammates, sidestepping questions about the jersey-tearing and expressing gratitude to be back.
“I felt like I was out on an island, really”. No out was bigger than the last of the sixth inning as Lackey induced a pop up on the infield from Jose Abreu with the go-ahead run at first.
When the Cubs announced Chapman’s acquisition from the New York Yankees on Monday, the team released a statement from Chairman Tom Ricketts saying they were aware of his 29-game suspension to begin the season under Major League Baseball’s new domestic violence policy.
Catcher Miguel Montero served as Chapman’s translator after the game for the second straight day.
Dexter Fowler drew a nine-pitch leadoff walk in the first inning and Kris Bryant, who homered off Sale in the All-Star Game earlier this month, almost did it again, settled for an RBI double off the centerfield fence.
The Cubs took the lead for good in the third when Sale hit Fowler in the back foot with a slider, walked Bryant and after Rizzo flew out, Zobrist singled up the middle. The subject of several trade rumors and many teams’ desires, Sale was suspended for cutting up throwback jerseys he didn’t want to wear while pitching. The left-hander said they were uncomfortable and became enraged when the team wouldn’t switch them out. “We’re here to win games and from this point forward I think that’s our main focus”.
Fernandez gave up five runs in five innings and fell to 26-2 at Marlins Park. He went 3 for 4 with two RBIs. In the 5-4 loss, Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki recorded a hit, the 2,998th of his career.
Braves starter Matt Wisler (4-11) gave up three homers and has allowed eight homers in his past four starts, a span of 20 1/3 innings. Facing the Diamondbacks for the first time, he walked one and struck out five.
TWINS 6, ORIOLES 2: Rookie Max Kepler continued his midseason surge with a game-tying home run among two hits and two RBIs as Minnesota rallied to beat Baltimore at Minneapolis. Addison Russell would eventually add an insurance run with a RBI ground out to bring Zobrist home.
RANGERS 3, ROYALS 2: Mitch Moreland’s second home run of the game broke a tie in the eighth inning and Cole Hamels earned his 12th win of the season as the Texas Rangers beat the Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Thursday night.
Michael Wacha (6-7) allowed three runs in six innings, and three relievers completed an eight-hitter.
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DeGrom allowed only one runner to reach second base over seven innings of scoreless ball for the Mets.
