Cubs 9, Reds 2 (6.29.16)

OSS: What is best in life? To crush your enemies, to drive them before you, to hear the lamentations of their broadcasters.

Three up:

After a 15-inning marathon last night, Kyle Hendricks pitched into the seventh inning to help give the pen a breather. I was going to say that it’s pretty long for a Hendricks start, but he’s actually averaged just over six innings per start this year. He wasn’t necessarily his sharpest, throwing 117 pitches and allowing ten baserunners, but this was the outing the Cubs needed.
The Cubs offense bombed their way out of GABP, with conventional homers by Russell and Almora and a less conventional one by Rizzo. Billy Hamilton took a ball to the face on an awkward converging play with LF Adam Duvall caused him to lose track of the ball, and he was down for several minutes. Early reports that I’ve seen suggested that he was passing the concussion protocol stuff, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him on the concussion DL when they come to Wrigley next week.
Carl Edwards Jr. also impressed in this game, finishing it out with two scoreless innings and two strikeouts. His stuff is good, and if he continues to hit the strike zone he could be exactly the bullpen reinforcement the team needs, especially with Grimm struggling this season. Well, almost exactly. Unless he pulls an Inigo Montoya on us and reveals that he’s even better left-handed.

Three down:

Grimm looked good yesterday, but today he issued a hit and two walks while only recording one out. It’s not like he’s a huge control guy, his walk rate has actually improved from last year. He’s just getting hit hard.
I can’t come up with anything else. The most negative play was Kris Bryant striking out to lead off the third inning, which pretty much sums up this game for the Cubs. No position player even had an 0-fer.
I feel bad that a player as great as Joey Votto is stuck on this crappy team with announcers who don’t appreciate him.

Next up: The Cubs travel to not-Shea to meet the Mets. Given how both teams have been kind of scuffling lately this feels like much less of a marquee matchup, even with the NLCS rematch.