Tyler Chatwood steps up, leads Chicago Cubs to a much-needed win

Chicago Cubs: Offense, pitching finally on the same page in this one

After Chatwood departed in the fifth, the Cubs bullpen did not allow the Giants to score – with Kyle Ryan, Rowan Wick, Pedro Strop and Brandon Kintzler bridging the gap to closer Craig Kimbrel, who nailed down his seventh save of the season.

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What stood out there, though, was the order in which these guys were utilized by Maddon. Strop, who has struggled lately, entered in the seventh – while Kintzler took the eighth, the frame historically handled by Strop.

There’s little doubt his struggles of late prompted the move – and, although Strop turned in a scoreless frame, his velocity was still way down from where we’ve seen it in the past.

As for the bats, the long-ball gave the Cubs what they needed Wednesday. As I mentioned, Bryant blasted a two-run shot in the third – but that wasn’t the team’s first homer of the day. Javier Baez got things started in the top of the first with a solo blast to left-center, his 25th homer of the season.

After the Giants had pulled within two at 3-1 in the bottom of the third, Albert Almora hit a solo shot to left to add to the Cubs’ lead – capping the scoring for the day with his 10th homer of the year.

Chicago now boasts seven players on the Major League roster with at least 10 home runs – and David Bote will likely eclipse that before it’s all said and done, as well – as he has nine on the year. As a team, the Cubs ranks third in the National League with 160 home runs – trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers.

What’s Next?

The Cubs get an off-day Thursday before opening a three-game set against the rival Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Chicago is clinging to a slim half-game edge over the second-place St. Louis Cardinals with Milwaukee just two games out in the NL Central.