Chicago Cubs Complete Doubleheader Sweep Of St. Louis Cardinals

In the meantime, Maddon reiterated his faith in a top-heavy rotation that entered Wednesday with a 1.34 ERA in its previous nine games.

“You know how I stand on this issue”, said manager Mike Matheny, whose own playing career was ended by concussions.

What he heard was his team coming back after losing the lead to win a big division game, which he says is about his favorite thing.

“””(I was) just making light of it”, Lester said. “That would have been a tough one to lose”.

Beeler was charged with two runs over five-plus innings. Trevor Rosenthal gave up a two-out double to Addison Russell in the ninth, but struck out Dexter Fowler for his 25th save in 26 chances.

Chris Denorfia had two hits and drove in three runs. But the defending AL Cy Young victor was on his game against the Astros, who managed just five singles and allowed only got one runner to reach third base.

Around the same time, the Oakland A’s pulled Scott Kazmir from his start at Yankee Stadium – leading to Hug Watch speculation on social media – before describing it as left triceps tightness.

Dan Johnson, promoted from Triple-A before the game, hit RBI singles in the second and fourth inning for St. Louis.

Hammel began the day at 5-4 with a 2.89 ERA and 104 strikeouts against 18 walks in 102 2/3 innings. “And also we’re not afraid to play that hot hand….”

“We had some bets going into the game, a little trash talk involved”. It looked like a good call. Those last two runs were not only important for the game, but for the Cubs in general, as they have had a lot of trouble bringing runs home from third with less than two out.

“I like our pitching”, Maddon said. They had been the only major league team without a win after the ninth.

There will be growth spurts on the way to potentially unseating the Cardinals as the class of the National League Central, and the Cubs realize it will take more than words and close games to achieve their mission. “I feel strongly about our group, but you’ve got to prove it”. Matheny said Wong was “asymptomatic” for concussion on Wednesday morning. On the season, Wacha is 10-3 with a 2.66 ERA, 3.17 FIP, 1.086 WHIP, and a 3.48 SO/W ratio. Fortunately, Motte then got the last two outs for his fifth save and a Cubs sweep. On Thursday, Martinez will face Pittsburgh LHP Jeff Locke (5-4, 4.15).

A very long day at the ballpark wound up with two well-earened wins for the Cubs.

Vs. White Sox, 3:05 p.m. Friday, CSN. The right-hander allowed six hits in 6 1-3 innings and struck out five.

Except this: The Cubs can take care of things like this if they win in October and give Maddon some discretion in the process next year – like World Series manager Bruce Bochy had when he took San Francisco’s Madison Bumgarner (8-5, 3.34) over Arrieta and others.

On the first pitch of a plate appearance, Hammel ranks fourth in the National League in throwing a slider (28 percent of the time).

He worked 4 1/3 innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits during a no-decision in a 7-4 St. Louis victory over Chicago on May 5.

Pierzynski hit his sixth homer and drove in two runs. The Cubs had overcome a 4-0 deficit on Miguel Montero’s bases-clearing double with two outs in the sixth.

Peralta ranks second among major league shortstops in home runs (11), third in on-base percentage (.347) and third in slugging percentage (.462).

Dan Johnson, promoted from Triple-A before the game, hit RBI singles in the second and fourth innings.

Jason Heyward had an RBI grounder and Mark Reynolds drove him in with an infield hit. Trainers had Wong riding a stationary bike to elevate his heart rate and taking tests, and Wong said he felt much better.

Cubs: Hammel threw 12 pitches and retired the Cardinals in order.

Cain (1-1) had not pitched at the Giants’ waterfront ballpark since July 9, 2014, when he earned his last win before missing the final half of the season following elbow surgery. Martinez is 0-2 in three starts against the Pirates. With Wong out of the lineup for the late game, Carpenter made his first start at second since 2013. He has pitched a career-best 15 1-3 scoreless innings.