CHICAGO (AP) – Anthony Rizzo was annoyed as he faced a sea of microphones before the Chicago Cubs’ first game following the All-Star break.
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Shortly after Hammel struck out swinging, Tommy La Stella slapped a pitch out to right field, moving Miggy into scoring position.
Cubs starter Hammel allowed just one run on three hits in his six-inning effort. Kris Bryant leads Chicago with 95 hits, Anthony Rizzo has 65 RBI and Ben Zobrist has 13 home runs.
Hector Rondon pitched a flawless ninth to complete the three-hitter for his 15th save.
Hammel outdueled Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish, who was making his first start since June 8 and only his fourth big-league appearance since 2014.
Darvish (2-1) pitched well until being pulled with one out in the fifth inning and said he was pleased with the outing. “You might see me on the bench with a bag of chips because [team physician Stephen Adams, M.D.] said it’s the carbs and the salt”. “I was throwing the ball well”. I’m sure Jason is giving his offense and defense some high praises after helping him end his winless skid that lasted a little over a month. Just trying to find the right formula.
Chicago (55-35) has won three straight while AL West-leading Texas (54-38) has lost 11 of its last 14.
BREWERS 9, REDS 1: Jonathan Lucroy’s two-run homer started Milwaukee’s big third inning as the Brewers rolled to a win on the road.
Hisashi Iwakuma threw seven shutout innings and Robinson Cano drove in the only run of the game with a sixth-inning RBI single as the Seattle Mariners beat the Houston Astros.
Wainwright (9-5) struck out five with two walks and didn’t allow a hit until Adeiny Hechavarria doubled to open the sixth inning.
After Hendricks sent three batters back to the dugout on strikes and only gave up three hits throughout six innings, only the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner of the Giants have a lower ERA.
Outfielder Matt Szczur entered the game as a pinch-hitter, for the second straight game, and delivered with a RBI base knock for the second straight game.
Hammel (8-5, 3.34 ERA) was absolutely lights out on the mound considering the fact that he was squaring up against Japenese phenom, Yu Darvish. The Cubs will try to add-on to their two-game winning streak, the first one they have had since June 28 and 29 in Cincinnati. In Friday’s series opener, the Cubs used pitchers who were originally drafted by the Rangers: Kyle Hendricks (8th, 2011), Carl Edwards Jr. (5) makes a diving catch on a line drive from Texas Rangers’ Ryan Rua during the fourth inning of an interleague baseball game, Friday, July 15, 2016, in Chicago. Lackey is quite familiar with Texas with 40 previous starts, his most against any opponent and fifth-most by any active pitcher against any foe…. They also had six in 2007….
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Leon hit his second homer this season and the third of his career in the sixth inning – a three-run shot off CC Sabathia for a 5-1 lead.
