OSS: Bullpen not sharp, but Cubs pull it out in extras against Kimbrel.
Three Four up:
1. Kris Bryant waved at two sliders to start the game, then managed to turn the PA into a walk. He reached base five times today, with three walks and two bloopy singles. He #Respected180 by going to second on his first hit of his career, a bloop that scored the Cubs second run.
2. Miguel Montero homered twice today, especially impressive given the cold weather and wind blowing in.
3. Hendricks was shaky in the first, but then retired 15 of the next 16 batters. He finished with eight strikeouts and zero walks.
4. Castro had the game winner, a bases loaded single against arguably the best closer in the game. *inserts ex-post-facto claptrap about closers in non-save situations*
Three down:
1. Phil Coke and Hector Rondon combined to blow a four run lead in the ninth inning. Strop got through his inning unscathed, but both he and Rondon didn’t have their best stuff today. It was also puzzling to see Edwin Jackson not even considered as the game went in the extras. He looked good in his one relief appearance, but I don’t think he’s pitched in over a week. No point in keeping him on the roster if you’re not going to use him.
2. Coghlan had a pretty lousy game at the plate, hitting into a double play in the 7th and striking out with batters on second and third in the fifth. His WPA on the day was -.244
3. Jorge Soler didn’t have a great game either, starting the game with three straight strikeouts. He did muscle a two out double in the eighth inning that it would have been nice to have cashed in on, in retrospect.
Next game: Jon Lester vs Andrew Cashner, 1:20 PM CT