Written by Brett Parsons,
Game 1:
One word describes this game- GARBAGE! Hey, it happens but hate to see the Cards be the team to inflict the beating!
This one was over before the Cubs came up to bat. Mills had nothing today. He hit leadoff man, Wong. Edman singled, & Goldschmidt walked to load up the bases. Carpenter ended the game with one swing, he hit a sinker that didn’t sink to the CF bleachers for a Grand Slam! Cards kept pouring it on as the game went along.
Hot Hitting Happ led off the bottom half of the 1st with a solo Blast to the RF bleachers. That would be the only Cubs hit until the 7th when Phegley hit a 2 run HR with Bote aboard. His first hit as a Cub. They had a few scoring chances, but got ZERO! 2nd inning, bases loaded with 2 out & Happ goes down swinging. 3rd inning, bases loaded again with 2 out & Kipnis grounds out to 2B.
Forget this one!
Game 2:
CUBS WIN, CUBS WIN, CUBS WIN!!
4-2!
A little more excitement in this one! NAIL BITER!!
Just like Monday’s twin bill, Game 2 is a makeup game due to covid-19, but since the Cubs will not visit St. Louis again this season, Cards were the home team.Rookie pitchers get the call. Alzolay for the Cubs & Oviedo for the Cards, making his MLB debut.
Both did well, as they each pitched a solid 5IP. Alzolay was just a little better. Cards offensively couldn’t get it going against Alzolay. I guess they used up their fire power in game 1. That made it easy for Alzolay. He only gave up 2 singles, leadoff single to Wong in the 1st & deep single by Carpenter, that went off the bricks & was thrown out at 2B by a great one hop throw by Schwarbs to Kipnis in the 4th.
Cards scored in the 5th to cut the lead in half. O’Neill reached on a throwing error by Bote, but the error should’ve gone to Riz as he just missed the ball. O’Neill advanced to 2B on the error. He moved up to 3B on a Schrock ground out to Alzolay. He then scored on a Knizner sac fly to CF.
Jeffress replaced Alzolay in the 6th. Express didn’t have good command. He got the first out, but walked Carlson & Goldie. Carpenter flied out, but Cub Killer Miller singled home Carlson to tie the game at 2. 8 RBI’s in the series for Miller. O’Neill flied out to Schwarbs to end the 6th.
Before I talk about the 7th, lets go back to the 2nd inning where the Cubs scored first.
Back to back walks to Schwarbs & Willie. JHey K’s, both runners advance on a wild pitch. Caratini brings them both in on a single to CF.
After the Cards tie it in the 6th,Cubs come right back the next inning. Andrew Miller comes in to pitch the 7th & is greeted by back to back singles by Schwarbs & Willie. Almora comes in to pinch run for Schwarbs. JHey goes down swinging. PH Nico singled to LF to load the bases. Miller out, Gallegos in. SUPER CLUTCH BOTE DOES IT AGAIN!!! On a 0-2 count Bote rips an inside fastball to CF to score Almora & Willie to take the lead.
“Sweet Child O Mine” blasting in an empty Wrigley Field meant Kimbrel was on to close it. It was vintage Kimbrel, 2K’s, hit batter, & froze Wong for Strike 3 to end it!! Kimbrel was throwing heat! Let’s hope he has turned the corner!
A much needed off day tomorrow after playing 11 games in 9 days.
Crosstown Classic is back! White Sox are in for a 3 game weekend series. Lefty vs Lefty on Friday! 2 former World Series pitchers will face each other, Lester vs Keuchel. As a Cub, Big Jon is 5-1 against the Sox. No fans but We ALL will be watching!!
Game Time: 7:15pm CT
