OSS: I can’t even. Such a weird game all around.
Three up
1. Kris Bryant had a great day at the plate, going 1-1 with 4 walks. Hard to believe this is the same guy who had a golden sombrero a few games ago, but that’s just how his game rolls.
2. Rizzo and Russell both hit solo shots, with Russell’s in the 9th cutting the cards lead to one.
3. Miguel Montero reached base three times with two hits and a walk, and somehow was the only Cub with multiple RBI.
Three down
1. Travis Wood was handed a five run first inning lead and promptly loaded the bases and coughed up a grand slam to Mark Reynolds. He actually pitched fairly well for the rest of his start, but that was a real deflator.
2. It was a strange game behind the plate for umpire John Hirschbeck. The Cubs scored five in the first without an extra base hit (three walks and four singles) and Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez was clearly being squeezed, and the strikezone remained completely amorphous from then on.
3. Pedro Strop and Zac Rosscup combined to blow the lead in the 8th. Have to wonder if Strop is still messed up from beaning Jean Segura in his last game.