Game 3 NLDS
WOW! What a game. Thirteen innings of high stress, high intensity baseball. It’s currently 2:03 am central time and I have to be up early to head to Chicago in the morning but I felt as if I had to sit down and write this real quick.
How many people expected a 5–5 game at the end of a 9 inning game between Jake Arrieta and Madison Bumgarner? The game started in favor of the Cubbies when Arrieta hit a 3 run jack off of Mad Bum. Talk about unexpected (#pitcherswhorake). All seemed great in the land of the Cubs. Then those pesky Giants kept clawing their way back into the game. Fast forward to the bottom of the eighth inning, Giants down 3–2 two runners on and enter Aroldis Chapman.
Many people will continue to question Maddon’s choice to go with Chapman for the 6 out save to close this series. To me, there is no question. You go with the hardest throwing pitcher in baseball along with arguably the best defense in baseball to back him up. He is a closer, his job is to close out games, so yes you go with him 10/10 times. Did he get the job done today, no, but I will take my chances with him closing out the next game he pitches. The Giants go on to score 3 in the inning to take a 5–3 lead going into the 9th.
Here is where I am a little disappointed in some Cubs fans who were quick to serve up the negative comments on social media. So many “fans” talking about how this game is over and blah blah blah. Show some mental toughness, no one expects the Cubs to go 11–0 in the post season. At this time I decided to go to my Twitter and post a tweet that read, “People talking about this game being over must have forgotten that the 3 hardest outs in baseball are the final three.”
Top 9 starts with a Dexter Fowler walk, very good at bat coming back from an 0–2 count I believe. Next up, Kris Bryant who rightfully so hits a game tying 2 run HR talk about clutch! National League MVP type stuff out of KB. The game goes to the bottom of 13 when the Giants finally walk it off to send us to game 4 later tonight.
Positives I take from this game; used almost our entire bench and bullpen shows what depth the Cubs have, Montgomery throwing 50+ pitches late in the game with the poise of a seasoned veteran. The never say die attitude of this team. I could go on, but lastly the hunger and drive to close this thing out in game 4. Alright Chicago time to stand up and show the world what Northside baseball is all about! #GoCubsGo #9more #Believe #FlyTheW
