Top Play (WPA): This game looked out of reach early, with Jake Arrieta’s lack of sharpness (and lack of real stirrups) and the Cubs’ general offensive impotence on full display. Luckily, down two runs with two outs in the eighth, hero-of-the-night Anthony Rizzo decided that he would continue to lurch out of his long slump. Following singles by the two hottest Cubs hitters—Addison Russell and Dexter Fowler—Rizzo ripped a 1-1 fastball from Will Smith into the second deck of the right-field bleachers, enough to get jiggy with it and give the Cubs a 3-2 lead (.605).
Following the lined shot, Rizzo returned to an ecstatic dugout and found a warm embrace from Starlin Castro in one of the season’s best moments. That marked Rizzo’s third hit of the night, a sure sign of life for an offense that seems to have been wandering the desert for at least 40 days.
Bottom Play (WPA): Prior to Rizzo’s homer, left fielder Kyle Schwarber and pinch-hitter Chris Denorfia each struck out with runners on first and second (-.097 and -.078). The inning was in jeopardy of becoming another exhibit in the Cubs’ uncanny ability to get runners on but not score. The eighth featured the Cubs’ third hit (Russell’s) and the Cubs’ third hit to start an inning.
Key Moment: Following Rizzo’s go-ahead home run, the Cubs desperately needed a good showing from a recently shaky bullpen. Rafael Soriano threw a scoreless seventh, rebounding from a pair of disastrous outings, and Pedro Strop came in the ballgame to preserve the lead in eighth.
Strop quickly notched two outs, striking out Ryan Braun and inducing an Adam Lind flyout. Next, Khris Davis hit a grounder tagged for the hole between short and third. Prime trade speculation subject Starlin Castro scoffed at news of a “big” deal between the Cubs and Padres making the rounds on the ol’ Twitter machine, fielding the ball to his right with a backhand, strongly and accurately throwing from one knee across the diamond to a stretching Rizzo, and recording a key out, an impressive defensive play to end the inning.
Trend to Watch: The inimitable Hector Rondon nailed the door shut in the ninth, his 14th save of the season, in a showing that will probably cement him as the closer in Joe Maddon’s mind. Jason Motte has shown that his fastball-exclusive approach won’t fool major-league hitters for long when tasked with high-leverage situations, Neil Ramirez has once again found himself on the disabled list, and Rafael Soriano has exactly one good outing as a Cub, so Rondon’s dominance in the late innings will play an outsized role in the Cubs’ success until the offense wakes from its slumber.
Coming Next: The Cubs look to take a third consecutive game—a “winning streak”—Friday against the Brewers. Jason Hammel (3.20 ERA/83 cFIP/3.46 DRA) looks to rebound from a disastrous start against the Phillies, while the Cubs face off against Taylor Jungmann (2.14/103/2.69). Chris Coghlan should be back at his proper position in left field, with Kris Bryant returning to third after a day breather. It’s imperative that Rizzo and Bryant start to hit the ball, and hopefully out of the ballpark, as the two hitters preceding them (Russell and Fowler) are currently in their best streaks of the season. There’s hope for the offense yet.
It’s fun to write up these come-from-behind victories. But how about we make the next one a nice laugher?
Lead photo courtesy Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports