Game one of the season did not go as planned for the Chicago Cubs. So far, game two is looking more like what fans expect. Aggressive running and great pitching have given the Cubs a lead through five.
If you are a fan of the Chicago Cubs, many of the questions you had coming into this season are being answered. The first game of the series against their rival Cardinals ended in a walk-off win for the home team. Both starters, Jon Lester (Cubs) and Carlos Martinez (Cardinals), pitched well enough to win. Tuesday night, Jake Arrieta is up to his old tricks.
Through the first three innings, the 2015 Cy Young winner set down the Cardinals in order. Five of those outs were via strikeout. The first hit came in the fourth off the bat of former teammate, Dexter Fowler; however, two great stops by Chicago Cubs third basemen Kris Bryant left Fowler on the bases.
Arrieta also scratched out the first hit off Cardinals’ starter Adam Wainwright.
The youthful exuberance of Cubs showed in the top of the fourth inning. A line-drive double from Addison Russell started the threat for the visitors. Following was a walk by Willson Contreras. The Cubs then broke open the scoring with a softly hit single to left field by Jason Heyward, knocking in Russell.
On that play, however, the throw from Randall Gridchik came to the plate. Contreras took advantage, moving to third. It was an aggressive, yet brilliant, move. The next batter, Javier Baez, bunted down the first base line. Wainwright flipped to his catcher, but it was too late and the Cubs scored again.
Javier Baez with the squeeze, Willson Contreras scores to make 2-0 #Cubs pic.twitter.com/UrsoPzuir7
— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) April 5, 2017
The fourth inning also brought this moment for Wainwright.
Adam Wainwright taking pitching lessons from 50 Cent. pic.twitter.com/gmpJlJHY8p
— Baseball is Fun (@flippingbats) April 5, 2017
Things looked a bit rough in the fifth for Arrieta. And Steven Piscotty. Arrieta hit Piscotty in the left elbow with a fastball. Then, as Piscotty headed toward second on a pitch in the dirt, he was again hit with the ball in the arm. Adding insult to injury, Piscotty was then hit in the head by a throw to the plate after an infield single by Kolten Wong. Piscotty scored, however, and left the game.
Next: Best Starting Pitchers in MLB History
Both pitchers made it through five innings. Wainwright was lifted for a pinch hitter in the fifth, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits, with 2 walks and 6 strikeouts. As for Arrieta, through five innings he allowed 1 run, on 2 hits, striking out 6 and walking 1 batter.
Add us as a preferred source on Google