Future World Series Matchup?
The Cubs traveled to Boston for the weekend. Enjoy the review.
The last time the Chicago Cubs faced the Boston Red Sox was in 2014 at Wrigley Field. Even though that was the last year of the rebuild, Chicago got the best of Boston by sweeping them 3–0. This matchup is one of the most anticipated series on the MLB schedule because of both teams are projected to be in the World Series for many years. In addition, the Cubs now have former Red Sox president Theo Epstein at the helm.
Game 1 : The Bats are Alive in Theo’s Triumphant Return
Jake Arrieta v Drew Pomeranz
This game marked Theo Epstein’s first time returning back to Boston since he switched over to the Cubs; the Red Sox ended his celebration early in the first inning.
“It has the feel of a big series even though it’s April, which is cool,” Epstein said. “Our players thrive in that kind of environment,” Epstein told Yahoo Sports reporters.
However, the tradition that’s going on so far for the Cubs pitching staff is allowing first inning runs. The Cubs pitching staff ERA is 1.14 in the first inning.
Boston attacked Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta by scoring five runs in the first and went around the entire batting order to get the final out.
After the first inning Arrieta settled in, and the bullpen pitched a shutout. The Red Sox’ only runs came in the upsetting first inning.
The Cubs tried to battle back to tie the ball game, but the lead was too steep. After Albert Almora Jr.’s solo home run in the fourth inning, the Cubs bats finally came alive in the seventh. Chicago put together a two-out, two-run rally to bring their four run deficit to one.
In the bottom of the ninth inning the Cubs had a chance to tie the game with Zobrist on second, but Addison Russell struck out to end the game. Chicago stranded 11 runners on base and Boston closer Craig Kimbrel made sure Russell was going to strand Zobrist to end the game.
Key Note of The Game:
Cubs stranded 11 base runners.
Player of The Game: Boston First Inning Offense
The Red Sox had five runs in the first inning, and that’s all they needed to win the game.
Game 2: The Comeback Cubbies
John Lackey v Steven Wright
Theo was not the only person making a return to Boston, as John Lackey made his return to Fenway Park as well.
Lackey was able to hold Boston in check for the first inning, unlike Arrieta. However, it was the second and third inning Boston was able to cross the plate. The Cubs had to rally back from behind once again in the series.
The Cubbies were facing a knuckleball pitcher who had Chicago swinging and missing early in the game. The Cubs young hitters took six innings to adjust to the knuckleball.
In the top of the sixth inning, Kris Bryant doubled off the green monster then Anthony Rizzo destroyed a knuckleball out to left field to cut the deficit to one run.
Chicago thought they had the momentum until a rookie named Andrew Benintendi homered off of Lackey to deep right center.
In the top of the next inning, Miguel Montero homered off Wright to re-tie the ball game. Red Sox manager John Farrell decided to keep Wright in the game and that was music to the Cubs ears. Jon Jay got on base then Kyle Schwarber singled him in to take a 5–4 lead. Chicago picked up an extra run in the inning to move the lead to two.
Wait… another player on the Cubs roster was also making their debut back in Boston. Koji Uehara who pitched Boston’s 2013 World Series final out came in to hold the lead in the eighth inning.
Key Note of The Game:
Cubs closer Wade Davis’ ERA is still at 0.00 after notching another save on Saturday.
Player of The Game: Anthony Rizzo
Rizzo’s home run got the Cubs bats back heated after only managing three hits early on the knuckleballer.
Game 3: The Bragging Rights
Kyle Hendricks v Eduardo Rodríguez
No, you are not reading the same words in this article;the Cubs pitchers could not get out of the first few innings without damage once again.
Kyle Hendricks started off slow in the first. After allowing a single, Hanley Ramirez destroyed Hendricks to deep left field over the Green Monster to give the Red Sox another early 2–0 lead.
After giving up those two runs, Hendricks settled down and threw five straight scoreless innings to keep the Cubs in the ball game.
Rodríguez’s stuff was fascinating to see — he threw four scoreless innings and struck out five straight batters in the third and fourth inning. However, his terrific pitching didn’t last, Bryant homered to cut the Boston lead to one.
Two innings later, new addition Jon Jay hustled his way over from second base to tie the game off a wild pitch. The game was tied until Boston put their rally caps on in the bottom of the eighth.
Joe Maddon tried to use Uehara to shut down the Red Sox again, but this time it was less successful. Uehara gave up three straight singles to load the bases. Maddon took Uehara out the game to put in Pedro Strop to pick Uehara up.
Strop struck out Mookie Betts to get one out, then went up 0–2 against Hanley Ramirez but threw a wild pitch to give Boston a 3–2 lead.
Key Note of The Game:
Cubs cannot hit Craig Kimbrel. That’s something to watch for if the Cubs do meet the Red Sox in the World Series.
Player of The Game: Hanley Ramirez
Ramirez crushed a home run off of Hendricks to give Boston an early 2–0 lead then in the bottom of the ninth he worked his way out of a 0–2 count to force a wild pitch and walk. Boston ended the inning with a four run lead.
A four-run lead was all Craig Kimbrel needed to win the series against the Cubs.
Cubs 13–11, first in the NL Central
Next up: Back home against the (11–12) Philadelphia Phillies.
