The Rundown: Caratini Pummels Mets, Satisfying Sweep in Gotham, Cubs Cut Cardinals’ Lead to 1.5 Games

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterAugust 30, 2019

“It’s goodbye. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies”  – Jack Kerouac, On the Road

Has a sweep ever felt as satisfying as the one the Cubs completed last night? Victor Caratini was all the offense the North Siders needed as he hit two bombs and drove in all four runs in Chicago’s 4-1 win over the Mets at Citi Field. And he did it against reigning NL Cy Young winner, Jacob deGrom.

The Cubs came to town reeling on the heels of a three-game sweep at home against the Nationals, staring straight down a loaded barrel at New York’s top three pitchers, and won every game. It was the team’s shining road moment of the season.

Sometimes, you just gotta grip it and rip it and let the big dog something, something, something…

The Cubs did in fact start the rally with two singles, both dribblers by Kris Bryant and Javy Báez, before Caratini shoved them home. Yes, hitters can shove, too, in case you weren’t watching last night. The Cubs No. 2 catcher is hitting .417 with three home runs in his last eight games.

Jon Lester doesn’t have an elite fastball anymore — though his command is plenty stout — and he managed to labor through six gritty innings last night to earn his 11th win. The bullpen locked it down, but Caratini was the hero. He’ll lead the team back to Chicago for a weekend series against the Brewers with the Cubs now trailing the Cardinals by just a game and a half. In the meantime, Chicago left the Mets feeling like Teddy KGB at the end of Rounders.

The Cubs entered last night’s game with a 15-38 record in road night games, so taking three straight is probably traumatizing to Mets fans right now. And coming on the 50-year celebration of New York pantsing the Cubs for the ’69 division title, it feels more than a little satisfying for us veteran fans to see Chicago put a big dent in the Mets’ playoff hopes.

Baseball is a funny game. The Cubs drew the short straw when the Nationals came into Chicago with an offense that was clicking on all cylinders and Washington flushed them straight down the toilet. New York started the second half as baseball’s hottest team, but the Cubs caught them riding a three-game losing streak of their own, and disposed of them in a similarly methodical manner.

I’ll close with more Kerouac, not that I’m suspicious or anything.

“I realized that I had died and been reborn numberless times but just didn’t remember especially because the transitions from life to death and back to life are so ghostly easy, a magical action for naught, like falling asleep and waking up again a million times, the utter casualness and deep ignorance of it.”

What a crazy, unpredictable season.

Cubs News & Notes

How About That!

In the 1st inning of last night’s game against the Marlins, Reds outfielder Aristides Aquino hit his 14th homer of the season — and this month — to set a new National League rookie record. For one night, he was tied with the Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger, who belted 13 home runs in June 2017. Rudy York of the Tigers holds the Major League rookie record of 18 in August 1937. Aquino was called up to the Reds on August 1.

I didn’t address Wednesday’s post by ESPN’s Jeff Passan about potential hot stove trades and signings.

If you are looking for a good take on Passan’s editorial regarding just Cubs players, Evan has you covered.

An obscure out-of-play rule helped the Athletics defeat the Royals yesterday.

Speaking of Kansas City, Jorge Soler is the likely choice for the fictional Andre Dawson Award. After belting a mammoth home run last night, the Royals outfielder has 37 taters with 96 RBI on the year. Kansas City is 47-88 and not in last place because the Tigers are on pace to lose 114 games.

Thursday’s Three Stars

  1. Victor Caratini – The Cubs backstop had a career night against one of the league’s best pitchers, going 3-for-3 with two home runs and plating all four Chicago runs.
  2. Kevin Newman – The Pirates shortstop was 4-for-4 with two big flies and four RBI as Pittsburgh outlasted the Rockies 11-8.
  3. Mike Clevinger – The Indians’ new ace improved to 10-2 on the season, blanking the Tigers over eight innings with 10 punchouts. Clevinger scattered four hits and didn’t walk a single batter.

Honorable Mention – Emilio Pagán earned a seven-out 31-pitch save for the Rays yesterday. Ballsy performance.

Extra Innings

“Just like a young man coming in for a quickie…I feel so unsatisfied.” – Teddy KGB

They Said It

  • “This exemplifies there’s nothing wrong with us. I don’t know why we’ve had such a difficult time [on the road].” – Joe Maddon
  • “The idea of trends and the idea of sustaining whatever — just find a way to win. Who cares how you get it done? Find a way to get it done. No one is going to look back at any games in 2016 where ‘they played sloppy this game and still won.’ No one remembers that. They just remember we found a way to win. That’s what you’ve got to do.” – Jason Heyward
  • “When I got traded to the Cubs it was like I was called up to the big leagues. I’m waking up excited to compete every day playing for something.” – Nick Castellanos
  • “We are very similar hitters, pretty close to the same swings, too, so I get a lot of information from [Castellano’s] at-bats. And he works a lot of counts. He’s just a really professional hitter, and he’s so underrated, too. He’s definitely making a name for himself here, and we couldn’t be happier.” – Kris Bryant

Friday Walk Up Song

Funk #49 by Joe Walsh with the Eagles, originally by the James Gang. Ron Coomer promotes an odor-eliminating product on Cubs’ radio broadcasts called FunkAway. I can neither confirm nor deny that its ingredients include Mets players’ blood, sweat, and tears. As an aside, Walsh never gets nearly enough credit for making the Eagles as popular as they were.

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterAugust 30, 2019
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