Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Rays Tuesday game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2017-07-04T17:55:05-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/156744172017-07-04T17:55:05-05:002017-07-04T17:55:05-05:00Rays 6, Cubs 5: The games that try men’s souls
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1UhOHRD_10EsIbHW7_aQu-J-aik=/147x375:2838x2169/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55570653/808313698.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by David Banks/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Cubs had plenty of chances to win this game, but did not. (You have heard this before.)</p> <p id="g9rWMB">Runner in scoring position, one out in the second, after a run scored... but no further runs.</p>
<p id="YAUJ9x">Runners on first and second, one out in the third... double play.</p>
<p id="XPlitI">Runners on first and third, two out in the fifth, after two runs came in... strikeout.</p>
<p id="PCSSFy">Runners on first and second in the sixth, nobody out... <span>Chris Archer</span> strikes out the side.</p>
<p id="QEKAGV">One-out single in the seventh by <span>Willson Contreras</span>, only the ball bounces right back to <a href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Rays</a> center fielder <span>Peter Bourjos</span>, who threw him out at second.</p>
<p id="jw5UiL">And at last, after the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> turned this into a one-run game with a rally in the ninth, and had the tying and winning runs on base with the remnants of a holiday crowd on its feet and loud, <span>Jason Heyward</span> lofted a lazy fly ball to left that was caught and <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2017_07_04_tbamlb_chnmlb_1">the Cubs had a frustrating 6-5 loss to the Rays</a>.</p>
<p id="h5QQeC">The Cubs were 4-for-13 with RISP, which is good, but it wasn’t enough, and they wound up leaving 10 men on base.</p>
<p id="zBSkbI">After that 1-0 lead in the second, on a triple by <span>Ian Happ</span> and single by Heyward, the Cubs gave it right back in the third. <span>Steven Souza Jr.</span> singled, stole second, went to third on a throwing error by Contreras and scored on a sacrifice fly. As it turned out, that run wound up being the difference in the game.</p>
<p id="VxaFVJ">The Rays scored five off <span>Jon Lester</span> in the fourth. The first six men reached base on five hits and a walk; the big blows were a two-run homer by <span>Tim Beckham</span> and a two-run double by Souza. It also included Archer’s first major-league hit (he came in 0-for-22) and RBI. That was a bad inning; Lester threw pretty well after that but wound up throwing 100 pitches in only five innings, and usually that puts too much pressure on the bullpen.</p>
<p id="Cm3rYV">Tuesday, though, the pen was up to the task. <span>Hector Rondon</span>, <span>Brian Duensing</span> and <span>Justin Grimm</span> threw four scoreless innings and faced the minimum 12 hitters. Two walks were issued, one by Duensing and one by Grimm, but both were erased on double plays.</p>
<p id="fsCPbe">That kept the game close while the Cubs mounted a ninth-inning comeback off Rays closer <span>Alex Colome</span>. Pinch-hitter <span>Albert Almora Jr.</span> singled, then <span>Jon Jay</span> walked. <span>Kris Bryant</span> popped up, but <span>Anthony Rizzo</span> singled in Almora to make it 6-4, with Jay going to third. <span>Ben Zobrist</span> hit into a force play, scoring Jay to make it a one-run game. Happ walked on a very close pitch, putting the tying run in scoring position, but Heyward’s fly ball ended it.</p>
<p id="qHbXYc">There weren’t many Cubs offensive highlights other than that ninth inning, but here’s a look at a couple of nice defensive plays turned.</p>
<p id="4IxLmE"><a href="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2017/07/04/1570864283/1499195261262/asset_1800K.mp4">Zobrist made a nice diving snag in the second inning [VIDEO].</a></p>
<div id="XEbvnd"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><video controls="" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;">Your browser does not support HTML5 video.<source src="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2017/07/04/1570864283/1499195261262/asset_1800K.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source></video></div></div>
<p id="DYKBHa"><a href="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2017/07/04/1571062283/1499206151263/asset_1800K.mp4">Addison Russell made this good catch on a line drive in the fourth [VIDEO].</a></p>
<div id="DPHdTk"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><video controls="" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;">Your browser does not support HTML5 video.<source src="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2017/07/04/1571062283/1499206151263/asset_1800K.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source></video></div></div>
<p id="2vaHXT"><a href="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2017/07/04/1571346183/1499206153150/asset_1800K.mp4">Bryant made this slick backhanded spin move on a ground ball in the eighth [VIDEO].</a></p>
<div id="WWkPaP"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><video controls="" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;">Your browser does not support HTML5 video.<source src="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2017/07/04/1571346183/1499206153150/asset_1800K.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source></video></div></div>
<p id="bTwYIJ">But that’s it, really; you can’t spot a team a 6-1 lead in the middle innings and expect to come back too many times. Lester has been the Cubs’ most consistent starter this year, but he just put one bad inning on the board in this one and that, as they say, was that.</p>
<p id="iSqLcH">The “quality start” isn’t really that much of a “quality” stat, but this will give you a pretty good idea of the difference between the 2016 Cubs rotation and this year’s:</p>
<div id="Kgod3a">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a> starting pitching<br>Through first 83 games of season:<br>2016: 54 quality starts<br>2017: 33 quality starts</p>— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) <a href="https://twitter.com/ckamka/status/882358269913837568">July 4, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="wDb6Df">Obviously, that puts too much pressure on the bullpen, although today the relievers did their jobs well.</p>
<p id="aDqnFa">The crowd of 42,046 was not only the largest of the season at Wrigley Field — it was the largest in almost four years:</p>
<div id="vkh1VP">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">42,046 at Wrigley. Largest crowd of the season. It's 1st crowd of more than 42,000 since July 13, 2013 vs Cards. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a></p>— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/status/882334720398438402">July 4, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="OpDfzV">Partly, that has to do with how many standing-room tickets are sold, but the place looked filled to the brim for this holiday game. Many fans started to head out after the seventh-inning stretch. They missed the near-comeback. That’s about all I’ve got here — a “near-comeback.”</p>
<p id="w10kvT">This team, I believe, can still come back and win the N.L. Central. But they had better start doing it soon.</p>
<p id="vuAMKy">The <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> won their afternoon contest against the <a href="https://www.camdenchat.com/">Orioles</a>, so that drops the Cubs to 3½ games out of first place, matching their biggest deficit of the season. The <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> also lost Tuesday afternoon, so the Cubs stay a game ahead of them.</p>
<p id="sKklXu">It was nice to see Heyward come back and reach base twice; he had good at-bats, although the last one didn’t end the way we would have wanted it to. Based on this, he’s not quite at 100 percent, but close:</p>
<div id="e9O1bc">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a> Heyward's left hand still healing but it's much better. "It doesn't look normal but it's all good, good enough"</p>— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/status/882312562678878211">July 4, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="AzkELt">Not that this has anything to do with how they play, but the Cubs should be happy that Tuesday was the last day they’ll have to wear a special-event/holiday uniform this year. They’re 2-8 wearing the special uni’s.</p>
<p id="GqozhL">The Cubs will try to get back to .500 (again; it would be the 19th time) Wednesday afternoon in the finale of this two-game set. <span>John Lackey</span> goes for the Cubs (please, please be Good Lackey) and <span>Blake Snell</span> for the Rays.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/7/4/15920292/cubs-rays-recap-jon-lester-jason-heyward-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2017-07-04T15:21:01-05:002017-07-04T15:21:01-05:00Overflow thread 2: Cubs vs. Rays, Tuesday 7/4, 1:20 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zPH83-25Bc7UN9hLAgkI2v5pA1o=/139x0:4954x3210/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55560161/usa_today_10141260.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="c39NFw">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/7/4/15903088/overflow-thread-2-cubs-vs-rays-tuesday-7-4-1-20-ctAl Yellon2017-07-04T14:20:02-05:002017-07-04T14:20:02-05:00Overflow thread 1: Cubs vs. Rays, Tuesday 7/4, 1:20 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-EguKoSdH193s9JffNLB1h90jD4=/122x148:1871x1314/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55560141/usa_today_10141266.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="c39NFw">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/7/4/15903052/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-rays-tuesday-7-4-1-20-ctAl Yellon2017-07-04T13:15:16-05:002017-07-04T13:15:16-05:00First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Rays, Tuesday 7/4, 1:20 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/up3GK-Q8rr0f7h7HjVsqCayojmM=/0x0:1740x1160/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55525869/698811162.1498837825.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="nyDrhi">Go get ‘em, Jonn.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/7/4/15903138/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-rays-tuesday-7-4-1-20-ctAl Yellon2017-07-04T11:30:03-05:002017-07-04T11:30:03-05:00Chicago Cubs vs. Tampa Bay Rays preview, Tuesday 7/4, 1:20 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/LwPRFVUk7qYFz6qw3Aq3uq74SqA=/131x0:2521x1593/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55548257/usa-today-10141433.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Cubs open up a six-game homestand that will lead into the All-Star break.</p> <p id="xd18M6">Happy Fourth!</p>
<p>This would seem to be an important homestand for the Cubs. They've got a chance to get to the All-Star break in first place, and with players coming back from the DL, this would be a great time to put together a winning streak.</p>
<p>Let's start today, shall we?</p>
<p>Here are today’s particulars.</p>
<p id="Yv7Z7W"><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
<blockquote>Jay LF, Bryant 3B, Rizzo 1B, Zobrist 2B, Happ CF, Heyward RF, Contreras C, Russell SS, Lester P</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Back home for the 4th!<br><br> <a href="https://t.co/axXxm3VNyH">https://t.co/axXxm3VNyH</a> <a href="https://t.co/cIhsaGXDwD">pic.twitter.com/cIhsaGXDwD</a></p>
— #VoteKB (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/882261570495148034">July 4, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<p id="FbwPnv"><a href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Rays</a> lineup:</p>
<blockquote>Souza RF, Dickerson LF, Longoria 3B, Ramos C, Plouffe 1B, Beckham 2B, Hechavarria SS, Bourjos CF, Archer P</blockquote>
<h2 id="uUA7L0">
<span>Jon Lester</span> vs. <span>Chris Archer</span>
</h2>
<p id="ytkaay"> </p>
<div class="c-float-left"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vGK1GVLghNjdvbifC0edZmIjn24=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8786899/usa_today_9928110.jpg">
<cite>Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
</figure>
</div>
<div class="c-float-right"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/PANaxRUNHhiB2zPP8caHfewbAeY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8786889/usa_today_9944756.jpg">
<cite>Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
</figure>
</div>
<p>The Cubs shifted around their rotation so that Jon Lester could throw in this game, presumably giving them a better shot against Chris Archer. This was a good idea; it also sets up Lester to start Sunday, and then open the second half a week from Friday in Baltimore.</p>
<p>Lester has been much better at home this year (2.68 ERA, 1.018 WHIP in nine starts) than on the road (4.96 ERA, 1.500 WHIP in eight starts), so it's a good idea to have him throw at Wrigley more often.</p>
<p>Jon has 28 career starts against the Rays, but of course all of them were while he was in the same division as they were, as a <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Red Sox</a> starter. Even so, he has a long track record against many of their players, as current Rays are 30-for-133 (.226) against him with five homers, three of those by <span>Evan Longoria</span>.</p>
<p>The swap is good for another reason: the Rays have not been good vs. LH starters this year, just 9-16.</p>
<p>Chris Archer, the subject of many desires of Cubs fans for a trade here, has been good this year. Not "ace" good, just good. And recently, he's been... not good. Over his last four starts he's posted a 4.88 ERA and 1.417 WHIP, with six home runs allowed in 24 innings. He will give you innings -- he's thrown at least six in 14 of 17 starts this year.</p>
<p>The last time he faced the Cubs was the last time the Rays were at Wrigley, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201408080.shtml">August 8, 2014</a>. He threw six innings and allowed two runs (one earned). But look at that boxscore -- most of the Cubs in that lineup aren't on the team anymore. <span>Javier Baez</span> and <span>Anthony Rizzo</span>, who both went 1-for-3 in that game, are the only current Cubs who have faced him.</p>
<p id="tC6bmB">Today's game is on WGN.</p>
<p id="y4SIM1"><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?ymd=20140401#date=7/4/2017">Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.</a></p>
<p id="Xe5URc"><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2017_07_04_tbamlb_chnmlb_1#game=2017_07_04_tbamlb_chnmlb_1,game_state=Live">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p id="cOzi2Y"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2017/CHN201707040.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a></p>
<p id="G92wAe"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/521974/pregame">SB Nation game preview</a></p>
<p id="AScVZw">Please visit our SB Nation <a href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Rays</a> site <a href="http://www.draysbay.com/">DRays Bay</a>. If you do go there to interact with Rays fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.</p>
<p id="4R9cxt">The 2017 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used during 2016. Here's how it works.</p>
<p id="uNrOo7">You'll find the game preview posted separately on the front page, two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).</p>
<p id="Jy7Er2">At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page. The First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads will be published in that stream, as well as the recap. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post, and at the time I write the recap I will rename the stream "Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of Week) Game Threads" so you can go back and find every thread related to that particular game.</p>
<p id="F5ehVY">You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread, all the overflow threads and recap in the box marked "Chicago Cubs Game Threads" at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in <a href="http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/chicago-cubs-game-threads">this section link</a>). They will also appear in the game's StoryStream as noted above.</p>
<p id="pjBR1E">The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at one hour, two hours and 2:45 after the scheduled game time.</p>
<p id="14mqou">Get tickets to Cubs games from our partner StubHub <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fchicago-cubs-tickets%2Fperformer%2F5644%2F%3Fgcid%3DchDIG-_-geoUS-_-genAllTix-_-dt170314-_-cmpEvergreenVoxOrganic-_-mktgrBRAND-_-partVox&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bleedcubbieblue.com%2F2017%2F7%2F4%2F15900814%2Fchicago-cubs-tampa-bay-rays-preview-tuesday" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p id="vngI0a">Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/7/4/15900814/chicago-cubs-tampa-bay-rays-preview-tuesdayAl Yellon