Chicago Cubs Jon Lester, Kris Bryant rescue the team from ‘trap game’

Before the season started for the Chicago Cubs, the team identified several ‘trap’ series–games on the schedule that SHOULD be easy victories. But often, if you think one thing, the other happens.

Forget those first few weeks. The Chicago Cubs are back to being one of the best in the National League. Entering this season, the Cubs marked several series that could be viewed as ‘trap series.’ With Milwaukee coming up this weekend, the Miami Marlins fell into that category. Look, they aren’t very good. We all know that. But these are the type of games that you can look ahead to the next series and get beat three out of four. They had already dropped the opener, 6-5.

One thing that can put your mind at ease in a game like this is having Jon Lester on the hill. Without knowing Lester all that well, I would say the chances of him overlooking a game are less than five percent. And even that is pushing it.

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With the wind blowing in from center field at 15 mph, offense was expected to be at a premium. Kris Bryant tripled in the first inning and later scored on a Javier Baez sacrifice fly. His ball likely would have left the yard if the wind wasn’t blowing in. But in the first, Starlin Castro hit a ball that likely was headed out, as well. So instead of a hypothetical 3-3 tie, the Cubs were up 1-0.

The wind moved fly balls a bit on the outfielders, but most were able to stick with it. But in the third, Kyle Schwarber got turned around and missed a ‘routine’ fly ball, allowing Curtis Granderson into scoring position.

Martin Prado doubled, scoring Granderson. Jorge Alfaro singled on a ball that Baez got his glove on and probably should have caught–but is there anything we don’t think he should make a play on? Prado scored and the game was tied, but neither of the runs was charged to Lester as they were unearned.

Albert Almora has been striking the ball with great regularity as of late, and he did so again in last night’s game. He singled early and then hit a line shot under the wind into the basket to tie the game at 2-2. Almora has hit left-handed starters well (.282) but overall has hit right-handers better overall with a .283 average.

From the fourth inning on, it became a pitcher’s duel. Lester gutted his way through six innings on 109 pitches, allowing the two runs (none earned) and lowering his ERA to 1.41. Lester also struck out six and walked none, always a good site to see from your starter.

With not watching the Marlins often, props have to be given to Caleb Smith. His numbers have been fantastic this year, and he continued that last night with 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out 11. For a team that’s in a rebuild, he’s a great piece to build around.

The Cubs bullpen was phenomenal last night. Brandon Kintzler, Brad Brach and Steve Cishek all pitched one inning with each striking out two. Nine batters faced, six K’s. Just one hit allowed (Cishek) to help set the table for the bottom of the ninth.

Jason Heyward drew an opening walk (which he’s been regularly doing), and then Schwarber was hit by a pitch. Pinch-hitter Daniel Decscalso bunted the runners over, Schwarber to second, Heyward moved to third. The key to this play was that Adam Conley fielded the ball quickly, and had Heyward dead to rights at third. But like Kyle Ryan for the Cubs the night before? Brain cramp. He fired to first and the Cubs had a runner at third with just one out.

Almora then grounded to shortstop Miguel Rojas, who fired home as Heyward went on contact. The throw was on target, and the Cubs were down to their last out. Enter Kris Bryant.

In the previous two games, Bryant had hit a grand slam, and then a solo home run in the ninth to give the Cubs a chance. After Conley got him down 1-2, Bryant just needed to put the ball in play, or we were going extras. Conley put a four-seam fastball up in the zone, and Bryant didn’t miss it. The wind did, however, make it interesting. The ball seemed to start to die as it neared the wall, and the center fielder was in position had it stayed in the yard.

But it didn’t, and the Chicago Cubs were walk-off winners by a 5-2 score. Bryant has now homered in three straight and is starting to swing the bat like the ‘old’ KB.

The Chicago Cubs will play the third game of the four-game series tonight, with Kyle Hendricks (2-4, 3.93) coming off of a dominant performance in his previous start. He’ll face Jose Urena (1-5, 5.45) for the Marlins.