3 memorable Cubs performances from the Field of Dreams Game

3 memorable Field of Dreams Game performances: #2 – Cubs get hot early

As good as Smyly was on the mound, the Cubs lineup did their part to help him settle in, plating a trio of two-out runs in the top of the first off Cincinnati left-hander Nick Lodolo.

After retiring Nick Madrigal and Willson Contreras for the first two outs of the game, Lodolo hit Patrick Wisdom with a pitch. Then Chicago rookie Seiya Suzuki made the most of it, doubling to left center field to score Wisdom before coming around to score himself on a Nico Hoerner single.

Cubs All-Star outfielder Ian Happ then added a two-bagger of his own to plate Hoerner, pushing the Cubs’ lead to 3-0 before Smyly took over. On the night, David Ross’ club tallied four runs on 10 hits, although they also struck out a dozen times (hardly surprising given they rank sixth in baseball with 982 Ks on the year).

Madrigal stayed hot with three hits on the night, raising his average over his last seven games to an even .400 mark. Obviously, his Cubs tenure got off to a rocky start – so seeing him start to find his form is a welcome sight. Hopefully he can maintain over the season’s final weeks, heading into 2023 with some momentum.

The only two guys to not record a hit? Willson Contreras and Christopher Morel.