CI Recap (7/25/17) – Cubs 7, White Sox 2: What Chaos! Cubs Win Eventful Game Against Sox

The Cubs looked to even the Crosstown Cup Tuesday at Wrigley Field. After a game best described as insane, they were able to put a win on the board.

Ben Zobrist doubled off Sox starter Carlos Rodon to open the 1st inning and Anthony Rizzo walked to put two on for Willson Contreras. The hottest hitter on the roster delivered again, this time with a three-run blast to left.

Rodon was the unlikely source of offense against Cubs starter John Lackey in the 2nd. Tim Anderson and Omar Narvaez singled and came home when the pitcher drilled a double into the right-center gap.

Addison Russell doubled to lead off the bottom of the inning, followed by a walk of Lackey. Zobrist doubled again to score Russell and build the Northsiders’ lead to 4-2.

The 4th inning is when things started to get interesting. Kris Bryant struck out looking on a very questionable pitch and was not happy. Home plate umpire Lance Barksdale began the #UmpShow, ejecting Bryant for the first time in his career (first for Bryant, not Barksdale).

Lackey created more drama hitting a total of three White Sox batters with pitches in the 5th. The prickly Texan was able to escape the jam without damage (Sox announcer Hawk Harrelson was quite worked up during the inning).

To almost no ones surprise, the Southsiders retaliated immediately to this violation of “unwritten” rules. Reliever Chris Beck drilled Ian Happ to leadoff the bottom of the 5th. Both benches were warned and the bean ball stopped.

A walk and a double put two men in scoring position to start the top of the 6th inning and knocked Lackey out of the game. Carl Edwards Jr. entered and pitched masterfully, retiring the next three batters and keeping the score at 4-2.

The Cubs played add-on in the bottom of the inning. Chris Beck walked Jon Jay (in for Bryant) and Rizzo before giving up an RBI single to Contreras. Albert Almora Jr. added a sacrifice fly later in the inning to make it 6-2.

Almora doubled home another run in the bottom of the 8th off of Tyler Clippard. Brian Duensing finished off the 7-2 Cubs win in the 9th.

Stats That Matter

  • John Lackey had an adventurous outing on Tuesday: 5 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 5 K, 4 HBP, and 2 BB. With his tendency to allow solid contact, giving out six free passes is not a smart long-term strategy.
  • White Sox starter Carlos Rodon had one of the most interesting lines I’ve ever seen: 4 IP, 4 R, 7 H, 11 K, and 3 BB. Eleven of the 12 outs he got came came via K. You can see the elite stuff he has, but also the long way he has to go to harness it.
  • Ben Zobrist had a huge day Tuesday, reaching base four times and doubling twice. BenZo finally looks healthy after battling a wrist injury in the first half.
  • Willson Contreras had yet another three-hit game and four RBI to boot. He has entrenched himself in the cleanup spot.

Bottom Line

After a frustrating loss on Monday, the Cubs bounced back with a big offensive performance. In typical Cubs/White Sox fashion, it was a bizarre game, but the home team did what they had to do and got the win.

On Deck

The series shifts to Guaranteed Rate Field on Wednesday night. Jake Arrieta does battle with James “Not Really Big Game” Shields at 7 CT. The game airs on ABC-7 and ESPN nationally, but will also be broadcast in its entirety via Facebook Live on the Cubs and ABC-7 Facebook pages.

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