Kyle Schwarber ignited the Chicago Cubs’ offense with his second post-season home run on Monday. “No matter if we’re down 2-1 or up 2-1, we feel like he’s the right guy”.
Advertisement
“Today we got his back – just like he always got our backs”, second baseman Starlin Castro said. He got into trouble when he walked two batters to start the fourth.
The fifth would be Wacha’s undoing.
Not satisfied with the lead, the Cardinals extended the lead to 4-0 when Piscotty hit his own home run. Watch Cardinals vs Cubs online free live streaming on Monday afternoon.
That was it for Wacha, pulled for left-hander Kevin Siegrist.
Arrieta then faltered again and gave up a two-run homer to Cardinals outfielder Jason Heyward in the sixth, which cut the deficit to one run.
In the seventh, the Cardinals had a chance to tie the game. A trainer and manager Joe Maddon then came out to check on the rookie, who was replaced by Javier Baez.
Dexter Fowler would add a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth to make it 8-4.
This marked the Cubs first postseason win at Wrigley since 2003 – pre-Bartman.
But because this is the Cubs, it’s not easy. Now he looks to give his team a commanding 2-1 series lead in a first to three wins situation.
The baseball world knew the Cubs’ young players were coming, but they have arrived faster than anyone expected, making them such a scary proposition now and into the future. Arrieta has gone at least six innings and given up one run or less in 10 consecutive starts, including the Wild Card round.
Perhaps the largest difference maker in Monday night’s battle was the resurgence of Cubs sluggers Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant, who both snapped hitless streaks to begin the postseason.
That underlines why the Cubs are now in position to end this on Tuesday and clinch their first playoff series ever at Clark and Addison, where they’ve been playing for 100 years. The game was a home run derby, as the two teams combined for eight long balls. In these playoffs, he’s 4/4 with a double, two homers, and five walks, reaching base every time he’s come to the plate. “I’ve been preparing for this game since my last outing in Cincinnati, so I’ve had a little bit of time to think about it, and, honestly, I’ll be ready to go”.
Chicago’s bullpen did a solid job up until Hector Rondon surrendered a two-run home run to rookie Stephen Piscotty with two outs in the ninth. The Cardinals couldn’t cash in when they needed to, despite getting opportunities.
Game 4 is scheduled for Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. EDT.
Michael Wacha #52 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches during game one of the doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on September 30, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Advertisement
Now, the Cubs will be challenged to do something they couldn’t do in Game 1 – score a run on John Lackey.
