Cubs Notes: Kane County Wins Title, Cubs Break Losing Streak
Last night was a good night in Cubs Land.
First off, big congrats to the Kane County Cougars on winning the Midwest League Championship. The Cougars beat the Lake County Captains 7-2 for their seventh straight playoff win to cap off an undefeated run.
Throughout the playoffs, Kane County rode their strong pitching all the way to the finish line. On Saturday, it was Daury Torrez’s turn to shut things down. He gave up one run on five hits in five innings.
Three Cubs farm teams made the post-season this year, with one ending as champs. Last year, the Daytona Cubs won the Florida State League title.
Can’t wait to see some of these results at the big-league level.
And speaking of results at the big-league level, the Chicago Cubs got a win on Saturday. Against the Pirates! Finally!
The 6-4 win ended a season-high seven-game losing streak. Javier Baez hit a laser of a home run, his second in as many nights, in the third inning.
Starter Felix Doubront pitched six scoreless innings with only one strikeout. Doubront has delivered in three starts thus far since coming over from Boston. I could see him slotting into the fourth or fifth rotation spot next year, or at least being given heavy consideration.
Other notes
* Before Saturday night’s game, manager Rick Renteria said the Cubs would be sticking with a six-man rotation for one more turn, according to Carrie Muskat. Renteria also uttered what every Cubs fan was waiting to hear: Edwin Jackson pitched a bullpen session on Friday and a simulated game could be coming soon. Joy.
* The Cubs offense this season has been historically bad…at least in one category. The team has already set a record for strikeouts, with 1,333. The previous high was 1,269 in 2002. There are 14 games left in the season, giving the Cubs plenty of time to really beef up that record.
* Matt Szczur hit his first major league home run, a solo shot in the eighth inning. If Szczur has a future with the Cubs, it would probably be as a fourth/fifth outfielder type.
* Cubs manager Rick Renteria is confident he’ll return next year, he told Gordon Wittenmyer. “In the end, I’m always hopeful that what I do is good enough to take care of me and where I’m supposed to be,” he said. A departure from Renteria next season would be a surprise, but if another candidate such as Joe Girardi becomes available, would the Cubs’ front office jump at that?