Chicago Cubs drop series finale in Cleveland, lose 4-3

Schwarber hits first HR in loss

Rookie designated hitter Kyle Schwarber connected on his first big league home run during the top of the fifth inning – a two-run shot that would tie things up at three apiece prior to the game being delayed by rain for the second time today.

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Cleveland – who suffered the 17-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs last night – grabbed the early 2-0 lead over Jason Hammel in the bottom half of the first inning. Michael Brantley pushed the Indians ahead 1-0 on a ground-rule double to left field which put runners on second and third with first baseman Carlos Santana due up next.

With Santana in the batter’s box, Francisco Lindor would come across to score on a passed ball by catcher Miguel Montero, allowing Cleveland to plate the final run of the inning. Hammel managed to limit the damage, striking out Santana, David Murphy, and Brandon Moss to retire the side in hopes of receiving some run support in the second.

The Cubs wouldn’t find themselves scoring a run until the third inning when Dexter Fowler plated Schwarber on an RBI single to right field and found himself on second after a throwing error by Lindor. Schwarber singled with one out and finished the ballgame 2-for-4 with two RBI while bumping his average up to .600. 

Hammel (5-2, 2.81 ERA) was pulled after the rain delay, finishing with only two earned runs on four hits and a 6/2 K/BB ratio through four innings of work before Travis Wood replaced him in the fifth.

Things would be deadlocked at three until the home half of the seventh inning when Giovanny Urshela gave the Indians the 4-3 lead on an RBI single to left field, driving in Yan Gomes from second.

Maddon would make a couple of pitching changes throughout the inning, opening with Justin Grimm to take over for Wood then called upon James Russell to relieve the 26-year-old after he recorded the second out of the inning.

Danny Salazar (6-2, 3.56 ERA) was also pulled after the rain delay and received a no-decision. In 4 2/3 frames, Salazar surrendered two earned runs on six hits with one walk, four strikeouts, and the two-run bomb to Schwarber.

The last batter he would face would be Kris Bryant – who loaded up the bases with Cubs after reaching safely on a single to Santana. This is when the umpire’s would call for the tarp to cover the field.

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