Cubs turn page, rebound to take down NL-leading Braves
CHICAGO — The Cubs received a have a look at simply how rapidly the high-powered Braves offense can overwhelm a workforce on Friday afternoon. One day later, the North Siders punched again, displaying why they’ve been considered one of baseball’s hottest groups within the second half.
As rain fell on Wrigley Field, the Cubs used a five-run first inning — powered by residence runs off the bat of Dansby Swanson and Jeimer Candelario — to propel the membership to an 8-6 win over the cream of the National League’s crop. It swiftly dulled any lingering sting from Friday’s shutout loss.
“I think that’s the sign of a good team,” Cubs supervisor David Ross stated. “These guys know we’re good.”
Even with the 8-0 shutout that the NL East-leading Braves dealt to the Cubs within the opener of this three-game set, Chicago rolled into Saturday with probably the most runs scored (150) for the reason that All-Star break. That led the second-ranked membership, the Dodgers (119), by a large margin.
That outpouring by the Cubs’ lineup over the previous few weeks has helped carry the membership to a 15-7 document for the reason that All-Star break. As a consequence, Chicago has continued to chip away on the deficits in each the NL Central and Wild Card races. The Braves introduced the following take a look at for a Cubs membership with October aspirations.
Not that anybody within the clubhouse is publicly declaring these “big” video games.
“I think you guys asked about this when we played the Rays way back,” stated Cubs outfielder Ian Happ, who homered within the seventh inning. “You should deal with each sport the identical. You should exit and compete in opposition to each single workforce on this league. This is the most effective on the earth.
“And any night, you can get the guy who is the best pitcher on the planet that day.”
Left-hander Max Fried match the invoice on Friday and guided Atlanta to its shutout win. Earlier within the season, when the Cubs had been effectively under 500 500 and going through the prospect of a Trade Deadline selloff, such a defeat could have felt devastating. Given the excessive degree of play since mid-June, it was simpler to maneuver on to Saturday.
“We’ve been swinging the bat really well. Fried was really good,” Ross stated. “It was funny, one of the coaches said, ‘Turn the page.’ I was like, ‘I did that in like the eighth [Friday].’ I was onto today, and I think a lot of the guys were, too. We got beat yesterday and came out today with a fresh mentality.”
Happ stored a humorousness in regards to the earlier loss.
“With all the runs we’ve put up, we were due for one of those days,” he stated with a smirk. “That’s the best way to do it, is to give up eight and score none, right? If you score seven there, the stats gods are going to come back and get you.”
The Cubs turned the web page with back-to-back walks in opposition to Atlanta’s Bryce Elder out of the chute from Mike Tauchman and Nico Hoerner. Cody Bellinger introduced them each in with a sharply pulled grounder that Braves first baseman Matt Olson couldn’t corral. That set issues up for Chicago to punch the gasoline.
Swanson delivered a two-run homer in opposition to his previous workforce — the shortstop’s fifth homer in a six-game span — to place the Cubs forward, 4-0. Two batters later, Candelario (acquired by way of commerce this week) despatched a pitch from Elder towering out to right-center for his first homer in a Cubs uniform since his first profession blast in 2017.
“It’s a good club. They have a lot of talent,” Braves supervisor Brian Snitker stated. “They’re an explosive team.”
That early five-spot went a great distance in serving to the Cubs navigate by way of a bullpen day began by righty Javier Assad. Behind him, Chicago’s most important quartet of Michael Fulmer, Mark Leiter Jr., Julian Merryweather and Adbert Alzolay held the road for the workforce’s 14th win in 18 video games.
“I think we’re in a great spot to go out there and try to get some wins,” Assad stated by way of workforce translator Fredy Quevedo. “I know it’s a little tight in the division, but we believe. We all believe as a team.”
That makes it simpler to show the web page on what may have been a gut-punch of a loss in the future earlier.
“Each guy in our group knows that the only day that matters is today,” Swanson stated on Friday. “I think that that’s one thing that we’ve really learned this year. It’s a long year, and you’ve just gotta keep going each and every day, no matter if things are good or bad. You’ve just gotta keep going and ride the waves.”
