Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (Simulated Game 72): Cubs 7, Cardinals 2 – Bryant Crushes 24th Homer as Cubs Sweep London Series

The Chicago Cubs (47-25) got the best of the St. Louis Cardinals (32-39) yet again, coming back from an early deficit to take both games of the London Series. Kris Bryant hit a two-run homer to tie it in the 6th and the floodgates opened for the offense. The Cubs will fly home on Monday with a 7-2 victory, via MLB The Show 20.

Jack Flaherty started for St. Louis and was extremely good, at least for the first five innings. He didn’t allow a run to cross the plate until the that Bryant homer and only allowed one hit and one walk through the first five. Meanwhile, Jon Lester took the mound for the Cubs and served up a two-run homer to Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong in the 1st inning, giving them an early 2-0 lead.

Lester was able to gut out five innings, giving up three hits and three walks with the two earned runs and two strikeouts. Alec Mills came out of the bullpen and tossed two innings of his own, walking one batter and striking out four.

Kyle Schwarber started the rally against Flaherty with a one-out double. That brought up Bryant, who tied the game with one quick swing.

Anthony Rizzo then walked on four straight pitches and moved to third on a two-out double by Ian Happ. Willson Contreras walked to load the bases and the newly-called-up Mark Zagunis got the go-ahead RBI on a hit-by-pitch, making it 3-2 in favor of the Cubs. Mike Shildt went out to get Flaherty, who appeared to be frustrated that he wasn’t removed earlier.

Right-hander John Gant took over for Flaherty and immediately served up a two-run single to Nico Hoerner before striking out David Bote to end the inning. The Cubs would add two more runs in the 7th on a double by Happ, making the score 7-2. That’s all they’d need, with Brandon Morrow and Brad Wieck following Mills out of the bullpen with scoreless innings to close out the game.

Notes: The Cubs will only have one day off before going back to Wrigley Field for a six-game home-stand against the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox. Ross said after the game that he is lining up his rotation with José Quintana first, followed by Kyle Hendricks, Yu Darvish, Mills, and then Lester.

Key Players:

Schwarber – 2-for-5, 2B, 3B, 2 R
Bryant – 1-for-3, 2 BB, HR, 2 RBI
Happ – 2-for-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI
Hoerner – 1-for-4, 2 RBI
DeJong – 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI

Winning Pitcher – Lester (5-5)
Losing Pitcher – Flaherty (5-8)
Save – None
Home Runs – Bryant (24), DeJong (17)

Sunday Standings:

Cubs – 47-25
Reds – 45-27
Brewers – 35-36
Cardinals – 32-39
Pirates – 23-48