This recap, written by Baseball Prospectus’s Meg Rowley, forms part of the main site’s comprehensive coverage of the postseason, “Playoff Prospectus”.
Let’s all admit something: Game 2 was a clunker. This game was the first car you have in high school. You’re pleased to have a car, because any car in high school is great, but every time you pick up your friends you worry it won’t start and you’ll need a tow. It’s better than the rusty bike you had, which also was better than walking, but if a rich kid in your class drove by, you’d feel self-conscious.
The Cubs needed to win this game to keep pace with Cleveland, and that in itself should have been enough. Jake Arrieta was on the mound, and Kyle Schwarber was hitting and being charming. Trevor Bauer was there. All of that should have been enough. This should have been a great car! But it was a clunker.
Arrieta threatened to throw a no-hitter, then didn’t. Bauer threatened to cut off his own finger to remove any doubt his drone wound would bleed like it did in Game 3 of the ALCS, but entered the field fully intact. The rain threatened to end the evening before it began, then to prolong it further, but did neither. The only promise the game made that it kept was that it would end, but with a 4:04 run time even there it took it’s time.
Multiple parts of two exciting teams conspired to deliver something sloppy. It wasn’t the exclusive domain of any one player but as so often happens in games like this, a performance or two will stand out, and this was no exception.
Enter, Lonnie Chisenhall.
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Lead photo courtesy Tommy Gilligan—USA Today Sports.