Game One Hundred Seventeen – Cubs 8, Tigers 10
WP – Al Alburquerque (3-0) LP – Pedro Strop (1-6) Save – None
After rain delayed the game for two hours and 17 minutes in the third inning, the Cubs chipped away at the big league the Tigers built against Jason Hammel. Kyle Schwarber hit a three-run homer in the fifth that made it a one-run game. Anthony Rizzo tied it at six in the seventh with a two-out single. The Tigers scored three in the eighth and one more in the ninth and took a 10-6 lead to the bottom of the ninth. The Cubs scored twice off Bruce Rondon but could not complete another comeback and dropped the opener to the Tigers in a game that started Tuesday night and ended Wednesday morning.
The Cubs could not outhit the Tigers. Detroit put on a hitting clinic and had at least one base knock in every inning but the sixth. The Tigers ended up with 19 hits and it was two bunt singles in the eighth that made the difference in a tie game.
Anthony Gose and Ian Kinsler started the eighth with back-to-back bunt singles off Pedro Strop. After a walk to Miguel Cabrera, J.D. Martinez hit a sac fly to center that drove in the go ahead run. Nick Castellanos’ bloop single to right plated two more off Strop and put the game away. The Tigers added a run in the ninth off James Russell.
Jason Hammel had his worst outing of the season. And Hammel likely would not have pitched beyond the third inning even if the rain had not delayed the game. Hammel was hammered. He gave up five runs on nine hits in three innings. The Tigers hit three home runs off Hammel and even the outs were scalded. Hammel also walked a batter and struck out six. Hammel made 62 pitches, 46 for strikes.
Everything from Jason Hammel was up in the zone. As much progress as he seemed to make over his previous two outings, he took several steps back Tuesday. Hammel appeared to struggle with his release point and follow through.
Travis Wood, Justin Grimm and Tommy Hunter kept the Tigers off the board in the middle innings. And Grimm was the only pitcher that did not give up a hit. Grimm struck out all three batters he faced in the sixth.
The Tigers scored 10 runs on 19 hits with three walks while Cubs’ pitching struck out 13 batters.
The Cubs first five runs scored on a pair of home runs … a two-run oppo shot by Chris Coghlan (2-for-4 with a home run, a walk, two RBI and two runs scored) in the first and a three-run homer by Kyle Schwarber (1-for-4 with a home run, a walk, three RBI and three runs scored) in the fifth.
Anthony Rizzo (1-for-5 with two RBI) drove in Dexter Fowler (2-for-3 with a double, two walks and two runs scored) with a two-out single in the seventh and tied the game at six. Anthony Rizzo made it a 10-7 game with a ground out in the ninth and Chris Coghlan scored on an error by James McCann for the eighth and final run of the night.
Addison Russell (2-for-4 with a triple and a run scored) hit his first big league triple in the fifth and Miguel Montero (2-for-4 with a double) had two more hits. The Cubs scored eight runs on 11 hits with five walks and struck out nine times (3-for-10 with RISP, six left on base).
With Tuesday’s loss, the Cubs slipped to 67-50 on the season.
The Tigers jumped on Jason Hammel in the first inning. Hammel struck out Anthony Gose swinging to start the game. Hammel did not get the call on a 1-2 pitch and Ian Kinsler lifted his next pitch into the basket in left … 1-0 Tigers.
Miguel Cabrera was sitting first pitch fastball and Hammel threw him one. Cabrera lined Hammel’s first pitch out to left. The ball appeared to land in the basket before a fan interfered. Replays showed otherwise, the fan was escorted out of Wrigley and Cabrera ended up at second with a ground rule double.
J.D. Martinez gave the Tigers a 3-0 lead when he launched a 1-0 pitch out to straight away center. Replays were not needed on Martinez’s 31st homer of the season. He crushed the ball. Hammel settled down and struck out Tyler Collins swinging for the second out. After a walk to Nick Castellanos, James McCann struck out swinging to end the inning. Hammel made 31 pitches in the first inning, 20 for strikes.
Dexter Fowler led off with a single to right. Anibal Sanchez made a wild pickoff attempt to first base after a 1-1 pitch to Schwarber. The ball got past Miguel Cabrera, but not far enough. Fowler tried to advance to second and was thrown out. The play was not close. Kyle Schwarber walked.
Chris Coghlan got the Cubs right back in the game. Coghlan drove a 3-1 pitch to left and his opposite field shot made it a 3-2 game. Anthony Rizzo was called out on strikes and Kris Bryant fouled out to McCann to end the inning. Sanchez threw 25 pitches, 13 for strikes, in the first inning.
After one complete, the Tigers led 3-2.
Batting practice resumed for the Tigers in the second inning. Jose Iglesias reached on an infield single. Addison Russell got to the ball behind second but had no play at first base. Anibal Sanchez struck out swinging on a failed bunt attempt. Hammel left a 92 mph fastball up in the zone that light-hitting Anthony Gose drove out to left. Gose’s third home run of the season, a two-run shot, gave the Tigers a 5-2 lead.
Ian Kinsler ripped a single into left. Miguel Cabrera just missed a home run and flied out to Soler in right for the second out. After Martinez singled to left and put two on with two down, Collins lined out to center to end the inning … 44 pitches for Hammel after two innings, 31 for strikes.
The Cubs went in order in the second. Sanchez made 33 pitches, 20 for strikes, in two innings.
After two complete, the Tigers had a 5-2 lead.
Jason Hammel served up two more hard hit singles in the third inning. But the Tigers did not add to their lead. Hammel struck out Gose swinging with runners on first and second to end the inning. Hammel needed 62 pitches, 46 for strikes, to complete three innings.
Addison Russell led off the third with a sharp single to left. Fowler flied out to center for the first out. A wild pitch as the rain picked back up on the first offering to Schwarber allowed Russell to move up 90 feet. After the third pitch to Schwarber, the game was placed in a rain delay (8:12pm CDT).
When play resumed two hours and 17 minutes later (10:29pm CDT), Tom Gorzelanny struck out Schwarber for the second out. And Chris Coghlan went down swinging to end the inning.
The Tigers led 5-2 after three innings and a lengthy rain delay.
Jason Motte started the fourth inning and the Tigers just kept on hitting. Kinsler doubled to left. Cabrera rolled back to Motte on the third base side of the mound. Bryant was not in position to take the throw from Motte. Kinsler advanced as Motte threw out Cabrera at first base. With the infield in, Martinez grounded out to third base. Bryant looked Kinsler back and Rizzo picked the low throw for the out. Maddon went back to his pen for Travis Wood.
Tyler Collins rolled a 0-2 pitch back up the middle, to the first base side of second. Coghlan made a diving stop, but lost his footing and threw late to first. Collins reached and Kinsler scored … 6-2 Tigers. Castellanos lined out to a leaping Addison Russell to end the inning.
The Cubs went down in order quickly in the fourth.
At the end of four, the Tigers had a 6-2 lead.
Travis Wood stayed in for the fifth. McCann hit a bouncer back up the middle that Wood knocked down and threw to Rizzo for the out. Iglesias singled to right. Relief pitcher Buck Farmer singled to center, his first big league hit. With two on and one down, Wood caught Gose looking for the second out. Ian Kinsler ripped a 3-1 pitch into left. Kyle Schwarber charged the grounder and threw a strike to the plate. And Montero applied the tag on Iglesias to end the inning.
Miguel Montero beat the shift to start the fifth. Montero singled to left on a 2-2 pitch from Farmer. Chris Denorfia hit for Wood and bounced into a 3-6-3 double play.
Addison Russell drove the first pitch over Gose’s head in center. Russell slowed up at second when Gose threw his hands up. The ball disappeared for a brief moment into to the vines. Russell saw the ball fall out and raced to third for the first triple of his career. Fowler walked.
Kyle Schwarber unloaded on a 2-1 pitch. The ball sounded like it was shot out of a cannon. Schwarber’s three-run homer stopped halfway up the bleachers in right … 6-5 Tigers.
Brad Ausmus decided that was enough for Farmer and went to his bullpen for lefty Blaine Hardy. Chris Coghlan singled to center. But Cabrera stuck out his glove and took a double away from Rizzo to end the inning.
At the end of five, it was 6-5 Tigers.
After Tommy Hunter worked around a two-out double by Jose Iglesias in the top of the seventh, Dexter Fowler led off the home half with a double down the third baseline. Hardy struck out Schwarber and Coghlan swinging.
Anthony Rizzo tied the game with another hit off a lefty. Rizzo singled to center, Fowler scored … Cubs 6, Tigers 6. Rizzo went to second on the throw to the plate and Ausmus went to the bullpen for right hander Al Alburquerque. Bryant walked. With runners on first and second and two down, Soler flied out to left to end the inning.
After seven complete, the game was tied at six.
Pedro Strop took over in the eighth with the game tied at six. Anthony Gose and Ian Kinsler reached on back-to-back bunt singles to start the inning. Strop walked Cabrera to load the bases.
J.D. Martinez lifted a 1-2 pitch into center. Fowler caught the ball. Gose tagged and scored, 7-6 Tigers. Victor Martinez hit for Collins and Maddon had Strop walk him. With the bags loaded and one out, Nick Castellanos blooped a 0-1 pitch into right center. Kinsler and Cabrera scored … 9-6 Tigers. Strop struck out McCann and Iglesias swinging to end the inning.
Alex Wilson set the Cubs down in order in the eighth.
The game went to the ninth with the Tigers ahead 9-6.
It was James Russell’s turn in the ninth. And Anthony Gose doubled to center with one out. Gose swiped third with Kinsler at the plate. Ian Kinsler flied out to center. Gose tagged and scored, 10-6 Tigers. Cabrera flied out to right to end the inning.
Bruce Rondon was summoned for the ninth. Dexter Fowler walked. Kyle Schwarber hit a roller to Cabrera in the hole. Fowler was forced at second. Schwarber beat the return throw. Schwarber took second on defensive indifference. Coghlan walked and a passed ball allowed Schwarber to take third. Coghlan moved up on defensive indifference.
Miguel Cabrera took another hit away from Anthony Rizzo. Cabrera made a diving stop in the hole. Schwarber scored and made it a 10-7 game. Coghlan advanced to third. James McCann was called for an error. McCann caught a pitch from Rondon between his mask and chest protector. Coghlan was awarded home and made it a 10-8 game. Bryant struck out swinging to end the game.
Jon Lester faces lefty Daniel Norris on Wednesday night (7:05pm CDT) in the last of four on the season with the Tigers.