DID YOU MISS BASEBALL? DO YOU FEEL BETTER NOW ?!
Thanks to a fantastic debut, Jon Lester left the game with a 7-0 lead before the end of the sixth inning began, and yet the tying run reached third base for the Reds when the ninth inning came. .
It wasn’t as widespread as it will be in a few weeks, so 76 pitches was its limit. He used them well, not allowing blows, a walk, and two guys got on because of mistakes. The Reds were unable to make any decent contact with him during his five innings of work.
But yes. Bullpen Dan Winkler was crazy. Duane Underwood gave up another dong. Ryan Tepera has a nasty slider, but he also allowed two base runners. James Norwood did not impress again. Craig Kimbrel was an absolute disaster and he stayed much longer than he should have. Thank goodness Jeremy Jeffress was able to finish things. More on that tomorrow.
Offensively, the Cubs were all over Wade Miley, who had nothing. But once he was out before the second inning ended, the Cubs didn’t add much. I mean, you wouldn’t think eight races would have been a tight game, but this offense will just have to keep increasing and increasing until the bullpen is resolved. If it ever is.
I’m not quite sure why Kris Bryant was eliminated later in the game, he didn’t listen on the broadcast if they said, but Nico Hoerner first tried out MLB left field. In connection with this, I’m not sure why Jason Heyward wasn’t pushed in late for the defense (he probably makes a catch that Souza couldn’t, leading to a couple of runs).
Full box score.
