The Cubs started the season series with the Cardinals and the seven-game road trip on the right foot with the 5-0 win at Busch Stadium.
The first game of the first round with the Cardinals went the Cubs way. John Lackey pitched seven innings of shutout ball. Dexter Fowler homered for the first run of the game and the Cubs pulled away late on Monday night.
The Cubs improved to 10-3 on the young season, the first team in the majors to win 10 games. And the Cubs are 15-1 over the last 16 regular season road games dating back to last season.
Monday’s Post-Game Reports
Prior to Monday’s game, the Cardinals fired the first shot by playing classical music during the Cubs batting practice, then no music at all. Eric Hinske brought out a portable sound system to play music during batting practice. The Cardinals reportedly saw what happened and turned the PA system back on and drowned out what the Cubs were playing on the field.
According to Jenifer Langosch, the Cardinals had “their rolling NL Central title banners from 2013, 2014 and 2015 on the jumbotron” during the Cubs batting practice.
- CCO Recap – Lackey Lights Out, Cubs Shut Out the Cardinals – Cubs 5, Cardinals 0
- ESPN – New Cub John Lackey shuts down former team with masterful performance
- The Sun-Times – Lackey, Heyward help Cubs set different tone vs. Cardinals this time
- The Tribune – John Lackey in control in return to St. Louis, leads Cubs to 5-0 victory
- ESPN Chicago – Cubs blank Cardinals as John Lackey again dominated at Busch Stadium
- Comcast SportsNet – John Lackey will add more fuel to Cubs-Cardinals rivalry
- USA Today – John Lackey, Cubs show turning point in rivalry with Cardinals
John Lackey struck out 11 batters on Monday night, one short of his career-high. Lackey became the oldest Cubs pitcher since Greg Maddux on May 10, 2005 to strikeout 10 or more in a single-game. And according to ESPN, Monday night was the first time since 2006 that Lackey pitched seven scoreless innings and struck out at least 10 batters in the same start. And Lackey is the first Cubs’ pitcher since Carlos Zambrano (12) on July 22, 2005 to strikeout 10 or more batters in St. Louis.
According to Patrick Mooney, Lackey said Monday night he did not hear from the Cardinals during free agency, except for getting a qualifying offer. Lackey added the Cardinals went in a different direction and he ended up in a great place.
Jason Heyward
Jason Heyward went 0-for-4 in his return to Busch Stadium. Heyward made an impact on the field with two excellent catches that helped back Lackey.
Anytime Heyward caught the ball or stepped to the plate he was booed by the crowd at Busch Stadium. John Lackey told the beat writers after the game, “I’ve seen booed. That ain’t booed. That was pretty soft really.”
The Cardinals fans are not happy with Heyward after he chose the Cubs over the Cardinals.
Heyward said before the game he was okay with being booed. He expected it. And he pointed out that at least the fans were not happy to see him leave.
Heyward explained the comments he made about the Cardinals after he signed the eight-year, $184 million contract with the Cubs. Heyward emphasized the Cubs have a lot of work to do to match the Cardinals. He has a lot of respect for his former teammates and said his comments were taken out of context.
According to Patrick Mooney, once the Cubs got in the picture, sounds like the Cardinals didn’t have a shot with Jason Heyward.
Kyle Schwarber
Joe Maddon announced prior to Monday’s game with the Cardinals that Kyle Schwarber will have surgery this week in Chicago.
Schwarber suffered a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee, and a severely sprained left ankle, during the violent collision with Dexter Fowler on April 7 at Chase Field. The Cubs said the next day when the announcement was made that he would miss the season that it could take one-to-three weeks for the swelling to subside before Schwarber could have surgery.
Updated 4:35pm CDT – Kyle Schwarber had successful knee surgery Tuesday in Dallas.
Cubs Starting Pitchers
Monday’s game notes provided an excellent stat, courtesy of Cubs’ historian Ed Hartig.
Cubs’ starting pitchers have completed at least six innings in each of the first 13 games for the first time in 106 years. The 1910 Cubs had its starters complete at least six innings in each of the first 14 games of the season.
The Cubs are the first team since the 1988 Houston Astros (22) and Cleveland Indians (17) to begin a season with their starters completing at least six innings in each of the team’s first 13 games.
According to the Tribune, the back end of the Cubs’ rotation seeks to extend innings streak.
Minor Roster Moves
• Iowa Cubs activated OF Matt Murton from 7-day disabled list.
• The Cubs promoted RHP James Pugliese to Double-A Tennessee from High-A Myrtle Beach. Pugliese pitched in three games for the Pelicans and was 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA and 0.80 WHIP (two runs, four hits, no walks, seven strikeouts, five innings).
• RHP David Garner and RHP Starling Peralta were placed on Double-A Tennessee’s Temporarily Inactive List.
News, Notes and Rumors
• With Monday night’s win, John Lackey has earned at least one victory over every team currently in the majors. Lackey is the 16th pitcher in Major League history to accomplish the feat.
• Jorge Soler has been learning English in his spare time according to ESPN Chicago. Soler told Marly Rivera, “All these guys think I’m so quiet, they’re in for a big surprise.”
• Iowa’s game on Monday night was called off after five batters. Randy Wehofer reported umpires and both managers (Iowa, Round Rock) “determined the soft ground in the batter’s box was unsafe.”
• According to Jon Heyman, the Tigers, Orioles and Reds are among the teams interested in RHP Kyle Lohse. And the Orioles have made an offer to the veteran right-hander.
This Day in Cubstory
2013 – Cubs released Jensen Lewis
2013 – Cubs selected Julio Borbon off waivers from the Rangers
1997 – At Shea Stadium, the Cubs lost their 13th consecutive game to tie the longest losing streak in franchise history. Turk Wendell, who wore No. 13, took the loss.
1980 – Behind 9-1 after 5 ½ innings, the Cubs rallied for four runs in the sixth inning and seven runs in the eighth inning to beat the Mets 12-9 at Wrigley Field. Dave Kingman drove in six runs with a two-run homer in the sixth and a Grand Slam in the eighth. Kingman’s slam came after the Mets intentionally walked Bill Buckner to face Kingman with the bases loaded. Carlos Lezcano collected his second big league hit and second home run.
1976 – Oakland selected Tim Hosley off waiver from the Cubs
1969 – Cubs traded Lee Elia to the Yankees for Nate Oliver
1946 – Cubs signed amateur free agent Bob Talbot
1890 – The largest Opening Day crowd in National League history of 6,311 at West Side Park watched the Colts beat the Reds 5-4. Wild Bill Hutchinson earned the first of his 41 wins of the season. Hutchinson completed 65 of the 66 starts he made and pitched 603 innings.