Heyward’s momentum was going forward, he was in flawless position to throw, and he made a ideal throw.
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Chicago couldn’t quite come back from an early four-run deficit in this one, but the Cubs won four of their final six regular-season games against the Cardinals. They lead division rivals the Pittsburgh Pirates by 4 1/2 games and the Cubs by five. It’s awesome to see Wrigley that excited again.
Manager Joe Maddon already said that Strop would be avoided at all costs Sunday after appearing in each of the first two games of the current series against the Cardinals. At the time it was 4-0 Cardinals. He allowed four runs in six innings while striking out seven. He walked Kris Bryant. Harper hit his 41st homer – a two-run shot to right – to give the Nationals some insurance at 5-2 in the seventh. Unfortunately, one of those hits was a pop-fly double by Matt Carpenter in the third.
“It (being hit by a pitch) is part of the game”, Rizzo said. Martinez gestured that he should have received a third-strike call against right fielder Chris Coghlan. Bryant, who sparkled at third base, also drove in a run with a double and scored in the first as he went 2 for 3 with a walk. Russell had been 0-3 thus far in the game, but by no means to be taken for granted. Xander Bogaerts also hit a home run for the Red Sox, who are 9-9 against Toronto this season. Rookie Addison Russell lifted a ball to right-center field. Unfortunately, a great play came with a large price tag. Cardinals hold their lead, 4-3.
In the eighth, the Cubs were poised for a potential big inning.
Starlin Castro singled to start the Cubs ninth, but pinch runner Quintin Berry was caught stealing. Berry hadn’t been thrown out in his 25 previous steal attempts in the majors. Rosenthal then struck out pinch-hitter Javier Soler and retired Kyle Schwarber on a groundout.
Hoping to reach the postseason for the first time since 2006, the Mets have a seven-game lead in the NL East over Washington. Maddon, who had stirred the pot throughout the course of this series, may not have openly admired the ability shown in Game Three.
Cub starter and eventual loser Jon Lester noted that the weekend full of hard, in-your-face baseball is what the game is all about.
The victor will move on to play the Cardinals in a best-of-five series. The Cardinals are the first to get a berth for October.
After the game, his left thumb wrapped in bright red tape, Molina said he would have an MRI on the joint Monday. What transpires for the Cardinals and their MVP catcher will be released later in the day. “You can take that book and read it yourself because I don’t give a crap about that book”.
Even with Adam Wainwright out with a torn Achilles.
Darren O’Day worked a scoreless eighth before Zach Britton got three outs for his 34th save. Rosenthal stated, “He’s our Little Yadi”. For me it’s either something on the Cubs or look elsewhere… Opposing basestealers are 14 of 16 against Cruz this season.
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Bob Nightengale of USA Today shared news of Molina’s injury, adding the catcher would be re-evaluated in a week to gauge whether he can return this season. Tony does not have the experience of Molina.
