This game is what Cubs fans fear in a potential Divisional Series rematch this year. The Cardinals cardinaled Jason Hammel in the first inning to take a four-run lead in the first inning with (maybe) two hard hit balls. That was a lead they never relinquished. The Cards added on against Hammel in the second and third innings, and the bullpen made it a rout with a three-run seventh and single tally in the eighth inning. Now, this fear is an irrational fear. The Cardinals did this against a pitcher who likely will not be on the postseason roster, but fandom is governed by all sorts of irrational thoughts. The thought that this season could be done just a few games into October due to a game like today is the only damper on the fun right now.
Top Play (WPA): The Cubs did not go quietly after Hammel spotted the Cardinals a four-run lead before the Cubs first trip to the plate. Dexter Fowler singled to start the frame, and then Alex Reyes walked Kris Bryant to give the Cubs an early scoring chance. Reyes struck out Rizzo, but Ben Zobrist picked his teammate up with his at bat. He took the first pitch for a ball but then turned on a Reyes pitch right down the heart of the plate. This was the first time the Cubs had scored against Reyes, and marked a key moment in the game. The Cubs finally had made Reyes pay for his erratic command. The lead had been cut in half, but an Addison Russell strikeout and Jason Heyward fly out would prevent the Cubs from inching any closer that inning.
Bottom Play (WPA): Yadier Molina’s two-run double in the top of the first was the bottom play for the Cubs. Jason Hammel had started the game by striking out Matt Carpenter. A Stephen Piscotty flyout encouraged many Cubs fans that Hammel had eaten enough potato chips this afternoon, but Hammel walked Brandon Moss on five pitches. Jhonny Peralta threw his bat at a very good 3-2 slider down and away, and the ball scooted safely through the right side of the infield to keep the inning alive. Hammel then hit Matt Adams with a curveball. Initially, the play was called a wild pitch, but a manager’s challenge resulted in Adams being awarded a base. That setup Molina with a two-out-runners-in-scoring-position situation in which he has had no previous success. Molina pulled an inside 1-0 fastball for a run-scoring double for the featured play. It did not help that Randall Grichuk followed that up with a single to make it 4-0 Cardinals.
Key Moment: It came early in the game which is not surprising given that 9 of the 14 runs were scored in the first three innings of the game. The Cubs were down 5-2 heading into the bottom of the second inning. Jorge Soler walked to start the inning, and Jason Hammel’s one-out single gave the Cubs another prime scoring chance. Fowler doubled to bring the Cubs back to within two of the Cardinals. Kris Bryant came to the plate with the tying runs in scoring position and only one out. Bryant watched a 79 mph curveball drop in for a strike and then attempted to ambush a high, inside changeup. Instead, Bryant hit it weakly into shallow left field. Hammel did not even attempt to tag on the play. Rizzo had a rough day at the plate, and would strike out for a second time on the afternoon. But the Bryant pop fly was the key shift in the game as Reyes settled in to put three zeroes on the board following the second.
Trend to Watch: It was not a fun game to watch for a lot of reasons. Jason Hammel had another subpar September start. The Reds start appears to be the anomaly at this point, and it seems pretty safe to guess he will be relegated to being a booster on the bench once the regular season ends. The bullpen battles are the interesting trends to watch. Mike Montgomery pitched out of the bullpen for the second time. His final line was impressive, giving up only a single hit and walk in 1 and 2/3 innings of work. Trevor Cahill and Travis Wood combined for two scoreless innings, so the only real concern was Hector Rondon. The Cardinals hit two doubles and a single with a walk. This allowed three runs, which effectively put the game away in the seventh. Only one of the balls hit against Rondon was a line drive, but since returning it seems like opponents have hit a line drive in every appearance against Rondon.
Coming Next: Tomorrow is the Cubs’ final home game of the year. Jon Lester faces off against Carlos Martinez under the lights and on ESPN. Then, the Cubs travel to face the motivated Pittsburgh Pirates for three times starting Monday at 6:05. The Pirates rotation has yet to be set for this three-game set. The Cubs list Kyle Hendricks, John Lackey, and Jake Arrieta as the starters, but there has been talk of Tuesday being a bullpen game. The rotation picture should become clearer tomorrow.
Lead photo courtesy Dennis Wierzbicki—USA Today Sports