Well Well. I was wrong, I am man enough to admit. That was one of the most exhilarating and crazy games of baseball I think I may have ever seen. It had pretty much everything.
I stated in a previous post that I didn't see the Cubs' offense sparking at all this postseason, and that we would see the Cubs beating the Nationals by one, in a drab game. One run was in it, but this, ladies and gentleman was classic Cubs baseball. Anything but boring.
I apologize in advance that this will not be as articulate as usual. I will write a game report as I see it, emotions included.
Gio Gonzalez, what was that? His stint starting in Game 5 was bizarre in itself. That ultra wide pitch to Kris Bryant echoing images of the great Bob Uecker.... Juuuuuust a little outside. He recovered to strike out Kris Bryant, but I'm sure Stevie Wonder could strike out Kris Bryant this offseason...
Anyway, so that lead to a run scored by Jon Jay after a groundout RBI by Anthony Rizzo, the play only made possible by a brilliant double by Jon Jay earlier in the half inning, just getting in front of Turner by a cats hair at second. So far, so good.
A hit by Almora Jr into right field, led by a walk to Contreras, also followed by a walk to Russell, set up an opportunity. Up steps Jason Heyward. Bases loaded. First inning. Gonzalez clearly on the ropes from all the world famous Chicago Mold he breathed in..... Time to repay that rather large contract Jason. We'll take back everything we said about you. Just hit the ball yes? Yes? Jason? Oh for **** sakes.....
Anyway, that leads to Chicago's favorite sportsman who looks like your weird uncle who hasn't been laid in a decade, Kyle Hendricks. Pretty solid in the bottom of the 1st. Allowed a blooper from Turner, but in all truth, Baez needs to make the play there. And Contreras needs to make a better throw to prevent the steal just after from Turner. A great catch in center field denies Jayson Werth what was surely a game tying hit, and Baez rockets to third as the cut off man, denying Turner the chance to sneak in, saving Hendricks from a tied ball game in the first. Then Baez, not content with not getting Turner out at third, guns him down trying to cross the plate for the tying run on the next play. Hendricks gets Zimmerman swinging, and its a 1-0 ball game. So far, so good for the Cubs.
Gio Gonzalez looked a lot more composed in the second. Striking out Hendricks and Jay in nine pitches, and a very uneventful half an inning, up steps Hendricks. The game seems to have calmed a little, teams both settling in. Should be an uneventful half inning too? Right?
Wrong. Nobody out, first pitch. Daniel ******* Murphy Home Run. Seriously dude, can't you go away? Please? With that tying up the game, looking like deja vu for the Cubs again doesn't it? A base hit from Rendon into right Center led to a moment of magic from Nats Catcher Matt Wieters. An expertly played bunt lead to two men on, at first and second, bringing up Michael A. Taylor. And Jesus H. Christ. He takes Hendricks way back into the Left Field bleachers, bringing the score to 4-1 Nationals. Once again, Pitching lets the Cubs down, and you start wondering about offseason and next season. We would have loved to be in this position mere a handful of years ago, so lets not be too disheartened? Eh?
Contreras walks again, as does Almora Jr, leading the bases to be loaded again, for the second time this game, for the Cubs. The leading run is represented by Russell who grounds out, but not before grabbing an RBI for Bryant taking advantage and scoring to make it a 4-2 ball game. With Contreras at third, Almora Jr at second, your thinking theres a chance to make a statement here, tie this game up. Now this is where it starts to get weird.
A ball in the dirt off a wild pitch by Gonzalez leads to Contreras coming in to score. They were pitching to Heyward.... Jason Heyward. The very same. Beggers belief why Gonzalez is trying to be cute there, with Heyward as easy an out as Hendricks at this point, but I digress. Then Heyward does the most Jason Heyward thing ever, and doesn't capitilize on the break in fortune with a man at third, and promptly strikes out. Nice.
Nothing much of note happens in the bottom of the third, with a 2-out single by Wieters the only real talking point.
In comes Matt Albers to pitch for the Nationals, which considering how lucky Gonzalez is that the Cubs only score three, is probably a good thing for the Nationals. The Cubs go down without much of a fight in a quick half inning.
Hendricks strikes out Robles and Turner, before Werth gets a two out single. Bryce Harper then follows with a single of his own, proving he is really there guys, he's just been talking to Brian Cashman the first three innings. But he's good now, he's mentally ready to play baseball, and gets a good hit. Hendricks promptly gives Cubs fans a heart attack by inducing a monster fly ball by Zimmerman, who luckily is only bothering the birds and not the bleachers there. Still 4-3 Nationals lead after 4.
Max Scherzer in for the Nationals, as a clear sign of intent by Dusty Baker, as I saw Roark coming in there. But it's Scherzer who gets the call, and you have to feel like this is game over for the Cubs now. Scherzer has been money all season, with a 2.51 ERA, no way the Cubs fleece him for a bunch of runs and win the game. Right?
Well, he promptly gives up a single lined up to the shortstop by Contreras, who is having a good day at the plate, while the shortstop can't get the throw in time to first for the out. Ben Zobrist, pinch hitting, hits a clutch single into Center Field to put Contreras to second. Zobrist, showing again, why he is one of the premier postseason players of recent generations. Outstanding once again.
Next up. Addison Russell. Huge at bat. And..... he gets the ball right into the corner of left field, trickling past Rendon and down the line for a two RBI double. More clutch hitting from the Cubs. Who are these guys?
Scherzer strikes out Baez to end the....... wait.... hang on. Matt Wieters is being a little bitch and claiming batter interference, as Baez runs to first.... and the ball is overshot into right field! Bringing Russell homeand bases loaded. Unbelievable scenes. Scherzer is imploding in a big way here as he hits Jon Jay to score another run. Unbelievable what we're seeing. Arguably the best pitcher in baseball is giving up a multitude of runs, 4 in fact, in a half inning. But not only that, but some very bizarre runs and situations, you'd struggle to see happen in a cluster again. Side note, thats the first time Scherzer hits a batter with the bases loaded in his entire career. The stars are aligning for the Cubs tonight.
Uneventful professional job from Duensing and Strop to end the weird and eventful fifth.
Brandon Kintzler comes in to stop the bleeding for the Nationals and promptly walks Ben Zobrist. Russell continues his heroics, although helped by Jayson Werth who decides to channel his inner soccer player and dive right past the ball into right, bringing Zobrist home on a RBI double. Heyward dutifully pops up a fly ball to end the half inning weakly.
Strop walks Werth and that brings in Mike Montgomery, who then promptly gives up a single to Harper, pushing Werth to third. For Scherzer, read Montgomery, as a wild pitch brings in Werth to score and Zimmerman to first. Although i'm not sure why he's diving into home plate like Charlie Hustle there, but each to their own I guess. Cubs starting to implode again, Middle relievers letting the club down. Been here before, doesn't look good. Daniel ******* Murphy brings home Harper on a double. Jeeeezzzzz. Bases loaded before a good catch by Heyward ends the half inning at 8-6 Cubs.
Sammy Solis is in for the Nationals. He gives up a single to Kyle Schwarber, which would have been a double for anyone not named Kyle Schwarber. Jon Jay singles up the middle, putting Schwarber at third, and that does it for Solis. In comes Ryan Madson to pitch with his 1.83 ERA in relief. Bryant grounds to third, double play on. The throw to second is on time, but Jon Jay breaks up the double play, to bring home Schwarber as the ground rumbles. 9-6 Cubs lead.
Oh god. No. Carl Edwards Jr is in for the Cubs. He walks Taylor. Maddon wisely takes him out and puts in Quintana, who should really be kept for the Dodgers should the Cubs make it. I guess this is tighter than I'm thinking?
He then makes me look foolish and gives up a hit to Turner, and then walks Werth to load the bases with one out. Harper flies out, but not before Taylor comes in to score, meaning its a two run ball game.
Nothing really happens in the top of the eighth, with the Cubs needed security runs. This will be close.
Wade Davis in for the Cubs and probably wisely, walks Daniel ******* Murphy. Not so wisely, he also walks Rendon. ****. Lind hits into a double play, before Taylor, who has been money tonight, gets a vital hit for the Nationals, scoring one. A one on single from Lobaton off of Davis brings heart palpitations to Chicago. Why? Again? COME ON WADE!!! He gets out without any more runs, and it's 9-8 Cubs. Looks ominous, but hold on for one more inning, and they are going to their third straight NLCS.
Doolittle comes in for the Nationals and this writer hopes he does just that. He gets the most predictable out of the series so far, and strikes out the lucky to even be 0-3 Heyward. Baez swings at a pitch which is so far over his head it may as well be in the nosebleed section. Slipping again, as the Cubs leave the ninth with no runs.
Wade Davis is still in for the Cubs, which is surprising, but the rate pitchers have been used in the Divisional round of the playoffs, Crazy Mark from Springfield, IL will be pitching soon, beer belly and all. He gets Werth cheaply, before the final out, which you feel would have made a legend. Last out of the game, one run ballgame, in steps baseball's supposed premier hitter of his generation, in Bryce Harper. He has his mind on all the fun he'll have in the Bronx, however, as he strikes out. And the CUBS WIN. THE CUBS WIN. Fly the W the Chicago Cubs are going to their third consecutive NLCS.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Player of the game - Addison Russell
Idiot of the game - I would say Jason Heyward, but that was a weak ass attempt by Jayson Werth, to stop the bleeding and dives past the ball. He gets the award.
I stated in a previous post that I didn't see the Cubs' offense sparking at all this postseason, and that we would see the Cubs beating the Nationals by one, in a drab game. One run was in it, but this, ladies and gentleman was classic Cubs baseball. Anything but boring.
I apologize in advance that this will not be as articulate as usual. I will write a game report as I see it, emotions included.
The first
Gio Gonzalez, what was that? His stint starting in Game 5 was bizarre in itself. That ultra wide pitch to Kris Bryant echoing images of the great Bob Uecker.... Juuuuuust a little outside. He recovered to strike out Kris Bryant, but I'm sure Stevie Wonder could strike out Kris Bryant this offseason...
Anyway, so that lead to a run scored by Jon Jay after a groundout RBI by Anthony Rizzo, the play only made possible by a brilliant double by Jon Jay earlier in the half inning, just getting in front of Turner by a cats hair at second. So far, so good.
A hit by Almora Jr into right field, led by a walk to Contreras, also followed by a walk to Russell, set up an opportunity. Up steps Jason Heyward. Bases loaded. First inning. Gonzalez clearly on the ropes from all the world famous Chicago Mold he breathed in..... Time to repay that rather large contract Jason. We'll take back everything we said about you. Just hit the ball yes? Yes? Jason? Oh for **** sakes.....
Anyway, that leads to Chicago's favorite sportsman who looks like your weird uncle who hasn't been laid in a decade, Kyle Hendricks. Pretty solid in the bottom of the 1st. Allowed a blooper from Turner, but in all truth, Baez needs to make the play there. And Contreras needs to make a better throw to prevent the steal just after from Turner. A great catch in center field denies Jayson Werth what was surely a game tying hit, and Baez rockets to third as the cut off man, denying Turner the chance to sneak in, saving Hendricks from a tied ball game in the first. Then Baez, not content with not getting Turner out at third, guns him down trying to cross the plate for the tying run on the next play. Hendricks gets Zimmerman swinging, and its a 1-0 ball game. So far, so good for the Cubs.
The second
Gio Gonzalez looked a lot more composed in the second. Striking out Hendricks and Jay in nine pitches, and a very uneventful half an inning, up steps Hendricks. The game seems to have calmed a little, teams both settling in. Should be an uneventful half inning too? Right?
Wrong. Nobody out, first pitch. Daniel ******* Murphy Home Run. Seriously dude, can't you go away? Please? With that tying up the game, looking like deja vu for the Cubs again doesn't it? A base hit from Rendon into right Center led to a moment of magic from Nats Catcher Matt Wieters. An expertly played bunt lead to two men on, at first and second, bringing up Michael A. Taylor. And Jesus H. Christ. He takes Hendricks way back into the Left Field bleachers, bringing the score to 4-1 Nationals. Once again, Pitching lets the Cubs down, and you start wondering about offseason and next season. We would have loved to be in this position mere a handful of years ago, so lets not be too disheartened? Eh?
The third
A brilliant hit into Center by Kris Bryant brings up the top of the 3rd, providing a needed man on base, with no out. A situation, gladly changed by Anthony Rizzo who promptly strikes out. Respect.Contreras walks again, as does Almora Jr, leading the bases to be loaded again, for the second time this game, for the Cubs. The leading run is represented by Russell who grounds out, but not before grabbing an RBI for Bryant taking advantage and scoring to make it a 4-2 ball game. With Contreras at third, Almora Jr at second, your thinking theres a chance to make a statement here, tie this game up. Now this is where it starts to get weird.
A ball in the dirt off a wild pitch by Gonzalez leads to Contreras coming in to score. They were pitching to Heyward.... Jason Heyward. The very same. Beggers belief why Gonzalez is trying to be cute there, with Heyward as easy an out as Hendricks at this point, but I digress. Then Heyward does the most Jason Heyward thing ever, and doesn't capitilize on the break in fortune with a man at third, and promptly strikes out. Nice.
Nothing much of note happens in the bottom of the third, with a 2-out single by Wieters the only real talking point.
The fourth
In comes Matt Albers to pitch for the Nationals, which considering how lucky Gonzalez is that the Cubs only score three, is probably a good thing for the Nationals. The Cubs go down without much of a fight in a quick half inning.
Hendricks strikes out Robles and Turner, before Werth gets a two out single. Bryce Harper then follows with a single of his own, proving he is really there guys, he's just been talking to Brian Cashman the first three innings. But he's good now, he's mentally ready to play baseball, and gets a good hit. Hendricks promptly gives Cubs fans a heart attack by inducing a monster fly ball by Zimmerman, who luckily is only bothering the birds and not the bleachers there. Still 4-3 Nationals lead after 4.
The fifth.
Max Scherzer in for the Nationals, as a clear sign of intent by Dusty Baker, as I saw Roark coming in there. But it's Scherzer who gets the call, and you have to feel like this is game over for the Cubs now. Scherzer has been money all season, with a 2.51 ERA, no way the Cubs fleece him for a bunch of runs and win the game. Right?
Well, he promptly gives up a single lined up to the shortstop by Contreras, who is having a good day at the plate, while the shortstop can't get the throw in time to first for the out. Ben Zobrist, pinch hitting, hits a clutch single into Center Field to put Contreras to second. Zobrist, showing again, why he is one of the premier postseason players of recent generations. Outstanding once again.
Next up. Addison Russell. Huge at bat. And..... he gets the ball right into the corner of left field, trickling past Rendon and down the line for a two RBI double. More clutch hitting from the Cubs. Who are these guys?
Scherzer strikes out Baez to end the....... wait.... hang on. Matt Wieters is being a little bitch and claiming batter interference, as Baez runs to first.... and the ball is overshot into right field! Bringing Russell homeand bases loaded. Unbelievable scenes. Scherzer is imploding in a big way here as he hits Jon Jay to score another run. Unbelievable what we're seeing. Arguably the best pitcher in baseball is giving up a multitude of runs, 4 in fact, in a half inning. But not only that, but some very bizarre runs and situations, you'd struggle to see happen in a cluster again. Side note, thats the first time Scherzer hits a batter with the bases loaded in his entire career. The stars are aligning for the Cubs tonight.
Uneventful professional job from Duensing and Strop to end the weird and eventful fifth.
The Sixth
Brandon Kintzler comes in to stop the bleeding for the Nationals and promptly walks Ben Zobrist. Russell continues his heroics, although helped by Jayson Werth who decides to channel his inner soccer player and dive right past the ball into right, bringing Zobrist home on a RBI double. Heyward dutifully pops up a fly ball to end the half inning weakly.
Strop walks Werth and that brings in Mike Montgomery, who then promptly gives up a single to Harper, pushing Werth to third. For Scherzer, read Montgomery, as a wild pitch brings in Werth to score and Zimmerman to first. Although i'm not sure why he's diving into home plate like Charlie Hustle there, but each to their own I guess. Cubs starting to implode again, Middle relievers letting the club down. Been here before, doesn't look good. Daniel ******* Murphy brings home Harper on a double. Jeeeezzzzz. Bases loaded before a good catch by Heyward ends the half inning at 8-6 Cubs.
The seventh
Sammy Solis is in for the Nationals. He gives up a single to Kyle Schwarber, which would have been a double for anyone not named Kyle Schwarber. Jon Jay singles up the middle, putting Schwarber at third, and that does it for Solis. In comes Ryan Madson to pitch with his 1.83 ERA in relief. Bryant grounds to third, double play on. The throw to second is on time, but Jon Jay breaks up the double play, to bring home Schwarber as the ground rumbles. 9-6 Cubs lead.
Oh god. No. Carl Edwards Jr is in for the Cubs. He walks Taylor. Maddon wisely takes him out and puts in Quintana, who should really be kept for the Dodgers should the Cubs make it. I guess this is tighter than I'm thinking?
He then makes me look foolish and gives up a hit to Turner, and then walks Werth to load the bases with one out. Harper flies out, but not before Taylor comes in to score, meaning its a two run ball game.
The eighth
Nothing really happens in the top of the eighth, with the Cubs needed security runs. This will be close.
Wade Davis in for the Cubs and probably wisely, walks Daniel ******* Murphy. Not so wisely, he also walks Rendon. ****. Lind hits into a double play, before Taylor, who has been money tonight, gets a vital hit for the Nationals, scoring one. A one on single from Lobaton off of Davis brings heart palpitations to Chicago. Why? Again? COME ON WADE!!! He gets out without any more runs, and it's 9-8 Cubs. Looks ominous, but hold on for one more inning, and they are going to their third straight NLCS.
The ninth
Doolittle comes in for the Nationals and this writer hopes he does just that. He gets the most predictable out of the series so far, and strikes out the lucky to even be 0-3 Heyward. Baez swings at a pitch which is so far over his head it may as well be in the nosebleed section. Slipping again, as the Cubs leave the ninth with no runs.
Wade Davis is still in for the Cubs, which is surprising, but the rate pitchers have been used in the Divisional round of the playoffs, Crazy Mark from Springfield, IL will be pitching soon, beer belly and all. He gets Werth cheaply, before the final out, which you feel would have made a legend. Last out of the game, one run ballgame, in steps baseball's supposed premier hitter of his generation, in Bryce Harper. He has his mind on all the fun he'll have in the Bronx, however, as he strikes out. And the CUBS WIN. THE CUBS WIN. Fly the W the Chicago Cubs are going to their third consecutive NLCS.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Player of the game - Addison Russell
Idiot of the game - I would say Jason Heyward, but that was a weak ass attempt by Jayson Werth, to stop the bleeding and dives past the ball. He gets the award.
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