The Cubs season resumes Wednesday night at the old ballyard with game two of three against the Reds. There was still quite the buzz Tuesday around Wrigley after the dramatic come from behind win on Monday night.
Addison Russell’s three-run blast made Tuesday’s media tour of the new clubhouse a lot easier on the Cubs than it would have been otherwise.
Ben Zobrist has picked up in the regular season where he left off in Spring Training. Zobrist quietly went about his business preparing for the year in Mesa. Zobrist played in 18 games and was 14-for-47 with four doubles, nine walks and five strikeouts. Zobrist batted .298/.411/.383 line with a .794 OPS in his first spring with the Cubs.
After seven games, Zobrist is 9-for-27 with two doubles, six walks and five strikeouts (.333/.455/.407/.862).
Zobrist started the rally in the eighth inning Monday after walking with one out. Zobrist was on second base when Addison Russell launched the first pitch he saw into the bleachers.
Ben Zobrist has given the Cubs’ lineup what it needed over the first seven games, a veteran presence that works at bats, makes contact and gets on base.
Javier Baez
Javier Baez played in his second rehab game with Iowa on Tuesday. Baez started in left field and finished the game at second base. Baez was 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
According to Randy Wehofer, Baez, playing in his first game in left field, made a “strong one-hop throw home to cut down a runner at the plate” for the third out in the second inning.
Javier Baez could be activated from the DL at some point toward the end of the current homestand or while the Cubs are in either St. Louis or Cincinnati next week.
Pierce Johnson
RHP Pierce Johnson was hit in the right elbow by comebacker to the mound Monday. X-rays came back negative and he’s hoping he does not miss his next start.
According to the Des Moines Register, Johnson was “pretty sore” Tuesday. Johnson will get treatment and is thankful the injury is nothing serious.
Ryan Williams
After just a miserable outing on Opening Day, Ryan Williams bounced back nicely Tuesday night.
Williams completed five innings Tuesday and allowed one runs on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts on 84 pitches, 54 for strikes.
In his first start of the season, Williams gave up seven runs, six earned, on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts in three innings.
Two starts into the season, Williams is 0-1 with a 7.88 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP. And those numbers should keep going down.
News and Notes
• The Tribune reported Cubs pitchers have limited opponents’ damage en route to a 6-1 start to the season.
• According to Paul Sullivan, this new Wrigley Field business is going to take some getting used to.
• The Tribune reported Addison Russell is leading the young Cubs’ growth spurt.
• Focused on winning big with the Cubs, John Lackey doesn’t care what you think according to Comcast SportsNet.
• Paul Sullivan reported special moments from Cubs’ home openers stand test of time.
• Jesse Rogers received a text from Starlin Castro about Anthony Rizzo using his walk-up music from last season on Monday night. Castro texted, “Is Nice!”
• Willson Contreras extended his hitting streak to six games Tuesday in Iowa’s 4-2 loss to New Orleans. Contreras went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. For the season, Contreras is 11-for-23 with three doubles, a walk and three strikeouts for a .478/.520/.609 line with a 1.129 OPS.
• Francisco Liriano was scratched from Wednesday’s start, according to Hardball Talk, because he’s dealing with some hamstring tightness. Ryan Vogelsong is starting Wednesday against the Tigers.
• Opening Night at Wrigley Field scored the highest rating on WGN-TV since 2008.
This Day in Cubstory
2012 – The Cubs spoiled the Cardinals home opener with a 9-5 victory over St. Louis. Ian Stewart hit a three-run homer, Bryan LaHair smacked a Grand Slam and Jeff Samardzija picked up the win. The Cubs spoiled the Cardinals’ ring ceremony after rain delayed the start of the game.
2005 – Cubs released Jimmy Anderson
1995 – Cubs signed free agent Howard Johnson
1993 – Lee Smith passed Jeff Reardon and became the All-Time Saves Leader with No. 358 in a Cardinals 9-7 victory over the Dodgers.
1976 – Cubs purchased Randy Hundley from the Padres
1976 – A Rick Monday bloop single into center field in the ninth inning gave the Cubs a 5-4 victory over the Mets before an Opening Day crowd of 44,818 at Wrigley Field, a record setting attendance at the time. Jerry Morales hit two home runs in the game.
1969 – The Cubs rallied in the bottom of the ninth and scored three runs to beat the Expos. 27,000-plus fans spontaneously swarmed Wrigley Field in an early season frenzy.
1964 – Doug Strange, born
1964 – Cubs selected Don Young off waivers from the Cardinals
1941 – John Stephenson, born
1912 – Jake Mooty, born
1910 – Cubs acquired Harry McIntire from the Brooklyn Superbas for Bill Davidson, Happy Smith and Tony Smith
1893 – Roy Walker, born
1889 – Claude Hendrix, born