Bryant homers twice in Cubs’ 9-3 win over Braves

The wind was blowing out pretty strongly to left field; perhaps none of the homers hit Saturday would have made it if not for the wind, as all of them were either in the basket, or like that one, touched by a fan over the yellow line and bouncing out. To do it four times I think that says a lot about the team. “I have to figure out how to pitch to lefties up here”.

For the Cub first baseman, winning is not optional, it’s expected and he is prepared to put in the time to make sure that happens.

There have been other incidents of fans being injured by balls or bats flying into the stand at ballparks this season. White Sox pitching broke their single game strike out mark with a total of eighteen punch outs. At only 26 years of age, he is the unquestioned leader of the Cubs. Atlanta (53-71) has now lost seven straight.

Arrieta, who entered Saturday’s game with a 7-1 record and 1.23 ERA in his last 10 starts, overcame some miscues by his teammates to navigate through two jams before departing after 105 pitches. Hector Rondon pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 23rd save in 27 chances.

“We’re going out there, we expect to win”, Hendricks said.

When asked if extending the screen behind home plate was the answer, Maddon said, “I don’t know how that plays”. He struck out the side in the first inning and then proceeded to overwhelm the Cubs the remainder of his outing. “They were fly balls that just kept carrying”. She was carried off on a stretcher and taken to a hospital.

Proper-hander Jason Hammel (5-Three, Four.65) begins for the Cubs in hopes of regaining his type of earlier within the season.

Chicago Cubs’ Kyle Schwarber (12), celebrates with teammate Anthony…

In fact, the Cubs lead the NL in both home runs and runs scored in the second half, thanks in large part to this recent surge.

“Everybody has their own routine and you go about it a certain way”, Bryant said.

“He got an opportunity last night and did a nice job”, said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez. “You got another month, you keep running them out there, they’ll be better off for it next year”.

Cubs rookie Addison Russell hit a solo shot in the sixth to tie the game at 7.

Hamel faced one batter in the seventh and departed in favor of left-handed reliever Clayton Richard after pinch hitter Eury Perez lined out to second.

Atlanta’s A.J. Pierzynski had three hits and drove in two runs.

“I really trust the people themselves”, Maddon said. Freeman and Simmons, to me, are the only real good players on the field for the Braves right now; they’re playing with very little energy and mostly are going through the motions. Wisler drops to 5-4 and sees his ERA jump to 5.43 on the season. The Atlanta Braves could enact some revenge on the Colorado Rockies starting tomorrow, who swept them in Denver the series before the All-Star Break.

The homestand ends Monday with a makeup game against the Indians, so the Cubs and Maddon can appreciate what the home vibe has provided – and what things could be like in September.

The noise for more protective netting at baseball games may only get louder after Sunday. Kris Bryant hit two of the five and the Cubs cruised to a 9-3 win over the Braves, sweeping the four-game series.