Cubs Scrap Out a Gutsy Win in First Game of Reds Series (Video)

That. Was. Aweeeesssoome! The Cubs started slow but there’s only so long opposing teams can hold this lineup down. The crowd was electric, there were times I had to remind myself this wasn’t a playoff game. That sounds weird for the seventh game of the season but it was true. There’s a lot of emotion that pours into this team and it was never more apparent than tonight.

Persitant pitching

Jon Lester struggled at times but he hung in there to patch together a six inning outing in which he gave up a respectable five hits, three runs, two walks and struck out five. He had some rough patches and definitely wasn’t throwing his best but he really hung in there as well as he could. He ended up getting a no-decision, while Adam Warren got his first win of the year.

Rondon came in for the ninth inning and shut it down. Yes, that means he struck out the side. There was no better way to end this one than with three straight Rondon stikeouts.

Young gun

Jason Heyward drove in two big runs in the bottom of the seventh with two out to bring the Cubs to within one run.

The big shot came from Addison Russell in the bottom of the eighth inning. With Jorge Soler and Ben Zobrist on base, Russell jacked a three-run homer to give the Cubs a 5-3 lead that they would hold on to.

Win it, @Addison_Russell.https://t.co/Dx3ikFIvuu

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 12, 2016

What an electric way to start the season and no doubt a sign of things to come.

Next up

Cubs have an off-day tomorrow. They’ll circle back on Wednesday to play the Reds in game two of the series. It’ll be John Lackey, looking to bounce back from a tough outing last week in Arizona, going against Alfredo Simon for the Reds. Game time is 7:05 CDT.