Recap: Game 16, Cubs at Marlins
The Cubs will take the field tonight looking for their first sweep of the season. To get to this point, though, they needed another strong outing by Quintana. And another strong outing is exactly what they got. For the second straight start, Quintana shut out the opposing offense while adding to his K count. Let’s dig in to how it all went down!
The Marlins sent reverse split righty Pablo Lopez to the mound last night. While he did make some nice pitches to get put of some rough spots, he wasn’t able to go toe to toe with Jose Quintana. Lopez worked quickly, taking very little time from one pitch to the next; one batter to the next. Thus, the first couple innings went by quickly. Just when it looked like it was going to be one of those “double shut out pitchers duel” of a game, David Bote lead off the 3rd with a double to right field. Almora and Quinta followed with quick outs. When leadoff hitter Descalso was down to his last strike and it looked like the Cubs were going to waste a leadoff double, Descalso came through with a rocket to right field, plating Bote and putting the Cubs up 1-0. The top of the 3rd ended when Bryant grounded out to third base and though they would score more runs, that one run in the third would be enough.
The Cubs next run came in the very next inning. Rizzo lead off the 4th with a comebacker and was out at first but Javy reached on a single. Some excellent base running on his end put runners on first and third with one out when Heyward followed Baez with a single of his own. Contreras was looking to do some damage and add to his RBI count but had to settle for loading the bases when he was hit by a pitch. Bote has a .333 batting average with the bases loaded, including a double and the now famous ultimate grand slam. This time, though, Bote drove in just one as he hit a slow roller to the shortstop, whose only play was at first base. Bote advanced the runners and put the Cubs up 2-0, though the fielders choice meant there was now two outs with the 8 and 9 hitters due up. Almora reached base when he was intentional walked to load the bases for Quintana. Unfortunately, Q wasn’t able to do anything at the plate but end the inning.
Quintana may not have had a good night at the plate but Theo didnt trade one of his top prospects for a pitcher who can hit. Elroy was traded for a pitcher who could pitch and my goodness did he ever. The no hitter lasted only through two hitters in the first. When former Cub Starlin Castro came to the plate, he was 0-18 in his career vs Quintana but he has been hitting left handed pitchers this season to the crazy tune of .500 so one of those numbers had to give in this at bat. Sure enough, Castro ended his “hitless vs. Q” streak when he sent a long single to left. That single wouldnt matter, though, as Quintana was able to strike out Alfaro, the very next batter. Alfaro was able to get a single off Q in his next at bat in the bottom of the 4th but with two outs, Prado ended the inning with a groundout to Baez. The Marlins best chance to score may have been in the bottom of the 6th when Rojas lead off with a single and the top of the lineup was due up. However, Anderson lined out to Heyward and then Castro was straight up robbed of a hit when he lined to shallow center. Just when it looked like the Marlins would finally get a runner into scoring position, Almora laid out and stole the hit from Castro. The inning then ended with Alfaro hitting a harmless comebacker to Quintana and was out at first. Indeed, the Marlins wouldnt get a base runner in scoring position until the bottom of the 7th when Dean hit a 2 out double. The threat wouldnt last long, though, as Quintana was able to get Brinson out.
Quintana wouldnt last long after the seventh. While he took the mound in the eighth, he only pitched to one more batter. Pinch hitting in the pitchers position, Herrara hit a leadoff single. With the lineup flipping over and the top of the order coming up to bat, Maddon decided to let his pen finish this one. Quintana’s night was over but whoa baby, what a night he had. His final line looked a lot like his last outing: 7 innings, 6 hits, 0 homers, 0 runs/earned runs, and 0 walks with 7 more strikeouts to add to his season total. The Cubs offense didnt provide him with the double digit run support they gave him his last outting, but they didnt need to, either.
Baez hit a solo homerun in the top of the 8th when lefty relief pitcher Adam Conley tried to sneak in a backdoor breaking ball. Little did he know how much Javy loves sending breaking balls into the stands. His solo shot put the Cubs up 3-0. The Cubs would score their final run in the 9th, and it would come without the benefit of hit!
You may recall relief pitcher/closer Sergio Romo from the 2016 NLDS when the Cubs defeated the Giants. He is the closer for the Marlins now. Trailing by only 3, with the Cubs bullpen having had early season struggles, Marlins manager, Don Mattingly, brought in his closer to give the Marlins half a chance at an improbable, bottom of the 9th, comeback. Things did not go as Mattingly had planned. With the count full, Bote had the discipline to lay off a close ball 4. He then took second on a wild pitch to Almora. Almora flied out to right but it was deep enough that Bote was able to tag up and get to third. Zobrist came in to pinch hit in the pitchers spot and sent an RBI sac fly to right, again deep enough for Bote to tag up. The throw to home was late and the Cubs put up their fourth run of the night.
Pedro Strop pitched the bottom of the 9th, even though the run by Bote in the top half made it a non save situation. Stroppy pitched a clean, drama free 9th and Cubs fans across the country got to leave their W flags flying for another night.
Cubs are looking for the sweep tonight when they send Cole Hamels (2-2, 3.79 ERA) to the mound to take on righty Sandy Alcantara (1-1, 4.24 ERA) at 7:10 eastern (local), 6:10 central (Chicago time).
