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Chicago Cubs advance to NLCS
I realize that this is neither a wrestling article nor is this site a news/sports site, but being a Chicago Cubs fan since 1981, I couldn’t help but relish the moment of glory as the Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants three games to one to advance to the National League Championship Series.
First, I would like to tip my hat to the Giants. In the middle of Tuesday morning, they beat the Cubs to create game four of the series. Matt Moore then pitched lights-out for eight innings. During that time, I wondered why I was watching what appeared to be a tailor-made Giants victory. But it was not to be.
Prior to the series, I had watched the 2016 Cubs with their tenacious patience at the plate. They took pitchers deep into counts and wore down most starters to get to the opposition’s bullpen. This series was no exception. After Moore had thrown 120 pitches, he was rightfully pulled by the Giants. Overextending a previously-repaired elbow could ruin a player’s career. With the Giants’ bullpen on the mound, the Cubs’ magic was about to begin.
Bryant led off for the Cubs and singled off Derek Law. Needing a lefty, Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy replaced Law with Javier Lopez. Rizzo promptly earned a walk from Lopez. With the game on the line, Bochy replaced Lopez with his closer Sergio Romo. He struggled, and on a 3-1 count, gave up a 2-run double to Ben Zobrist. Then the managerial buttons got pushed.
Initially, Cubs’ manager Joe Maddon sent left-handed Chris Coghlan up to bat for the struggling Addison Russell. In response, Bochy countered with another lefty in Will Smith. No, not THAT Will Smith.
Nevertheless, Maddon countered with rookie catcher Willson Contreras who hit a 2-run single up the middle to tie the game. With the go-ahead run on first, the Cubs played small ball. With nobody out, Jason Heyward bunted too hard. Smith immediately threw the ball to second to get Contreras, but shortstop Brandon Crawford’s relay throw to first was wide. That allowed Heyward to get to second base.
Bochy then executed a double-switch to replace Smith with Hunter Strickland while implementing Gorkys Hernandez in left field. In addition to his stellar defense, Javier Baez continued his hot hitting with a single up the middle sending Heyward home to give the Cubs the lead. Yes, folks, the Cubs scored FOUR RUNS in the ninth inning to steal the lead away from the Giants.
After Ross hit into a double play to end the frame, the Cubs enlisted Aroldis Chapman, their closer, to finish the game. The previous evening, Chapman was asked to complete a six-out save to beat the Giants but blew it in the eighth inning. This evening, he wasn’t going to be denied a series-winning save.
As Hernandez led off for the Giants, Chapman struck him out on three pitches. The pesky and dangerous Denard Span took his at-bat against Chapman but also struck out on three pitches. Next, Brandon Belt got some wood off Chapman’s pitches, but the ball went foul each time. Ultimately, he struck out as Chapman’s power got the best of him.
Cubs win! Cubs win! Cubs win! Holy Cow!
So what’s next for the Cubs?
We have to wait until Thursday night to find out. In the other series, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals will play game five to determine who will face the Cubs. It ought to be interesting.
Stay tuned Cubs fans!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).
