Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Cardinals Friday game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2017-07-21T17:45:02-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/157644352017-07-21T17:45:02-05:002017-07-21T17:45:02-05:00Cardinals 11, Cubs 4: Lost, one strike zone. If found, return to Cubs bullpen
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<figcaption>Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>That was... something.</p> <p id="AOwXjD">Let’s put it this way.</p>
<p id="gRU7lc">The last time the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> had an inning as disastrous as the eighth inning at Wrigley Field Friday afternoon, they won the next six games after that one.</p>
<p id="rTV4jo">So let’s go with that — maybe the Cubs will start another winning streak after the bullpen implosion that gave <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2017_07_21_slnmlb_chnmlb_1">the Cardinals an 11-4 blowout win</a> in the series opener in front of the biggest announced crowd of 2017, 42,186. The defeat ended the Cubs’ season-longest win streak at six.</p>
<p id="F2qjmu">That eighth inning — man, I have no explanation at all for it. <span>Carl Edwards Jr.</span>, <span>Hector Rondon</span> and <span>Justin Grimm</span> combined to throw 66 pitches in that inning, only 32 of which were strikes. Six walks were issued, and when Cubs pitchers weren’t walking Cardinals hitters, the St. Louis batters were hitting baseballs hard all over Wrigley Field. 11 Cardinals reached base before the Cubs finally got an out, two of them, on a double play.</p>
<p id="BNxkVn">CJ, Hector and Justin have had their ups and downs this year, but never anything that bad. It might send Theo & Co. to the drawing board looking for relief help; there are certainly relievers out there who can help the Cubs, and after this one, they look like they’ll need it.</p>
<p id="pEuNYZ">All of that ruined an excellent start by <span>Jake Arrieta</span>, who allowed five hits and two runs in six innings and didn’t walk anyone. The two runs were on a two-out homer in the second by <span>Randal Grichuk</span> and a pair of two-out doubles in the third. Apart from that only one Cardinals runner got past first base off Jake. And that continued a fine run of Cubs starting pitching since the All-Star break:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a> starting pitching since all-star break (7 games):<br>2.14 ERA, 42.0 IP, 27 Hits, 35 K, 9 BB, 0.857 WHIP</p>— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) <a href="https://twitter.com/ckamka/status/888493407894724608">July 21, 2017</a>
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<p id="FshmUk">That’s the kind of starting pitching the Cubs had all last year. Let’s hope they can keep this roll going.</p>
<p id="RISMKi">The Cubs took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. <span>Ben Zobrist</span> singled and stole second (his first steal of the year!) while <span>Willson Contreras</span> was batting. Willson made that steal moot:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Willson Contreras launches a two-run home run to deep left field to give the Cubs a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st inning!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThatsCub?src=hash">#ThatsCub</a> <a href="https://t.co/iEIme2IiyF">pic.twitter.com/iEIme2IiyF</a></p>— TheRenderMLB (@TheRenderMLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRenderMLB/status/888469997881704448">July 21, 2017</a>
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<p id="BKDx0L">That was Contreras’ 14th homer of the year and fifth this month.</p>
<p id="zEgIUj">The Cubs went ahead in the fifth. Arrieta reached on an error by shortstop Paul DeJong. Jason Heyward singled, and after a force play, <span>Anthony Rizzo</span> <a href="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2017/07/21/1631605883/1500666831900/asset_1800K.mp4">gave the Cubs a 3-2 lead [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="fRFf3G">Rizzo’s single put runners on first and third with one out, but Contreras hit into an inning-ending double play.</p>
<p id="2vxvC1">The Cubs had a chance to pad that lead in the sixth when <span>Kyle Schwarber</span> and <span>Ian Happ</span> led off with singles. After a pair of strikeouts, <span>Tommy La Stella</span> pinch-hit for Arrieta and walked, his fifth pinch-walk of the season, loading the bases. But Heyward grounded to short to end the inning. Those were the last Cubs baserunners until the ninth.</p>
<p id="H5OSNV">In the top of the sixth, Schwarber had kept a run off the board with <a href="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2017/07/21/1631637583/1500667133888/asset_1800K.mp4">this fine leaping grab at the warning track [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="rB5vH9">And give some credit to <span>Pedro Strop</span>, who walked the first man he faced in the seventh, <span>Kolten Wong</span>, on four pitches. He ran the count full on Grichuk before striking him out and then got out of the inning on a pair of ground outs. Strop didn’t throw many strikes either — just nine in 22 pitches — but at the time it seemed like gutty pitching. Instead, it was just a precursor to some of the worst Cubs relief pitching I’ve seen in a long, long time.</p>
<p id="wLikkw">The Cubs scored a consolation run in the ninth. <span>Javier Baez</span> singled and went to second on an error by <span>Matt Carpenter</span> on a grounder from Heyward. Zobrist singled to load the bases and Joe Maddon sent up <span>Albert Almora Jr.</span> to bat for Rizzo, I suppose just to give AA an at-bat. He hit a sacrifice fly to center field. By the time this happened, the ballpark was probably two-thirds empty; even many Cardinals fans took off after their team’s big inning.</p>
<p id="mRmXzQ">This comment by Joe sums this one up, I suppose:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a> Maddon was asked if he felt helpless watching the Cardinals' in the 8th: "You can't just open another can of pitchers"</p>— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/status/888526559128276992">July 21, 2017</a>
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<p id="GOjxn2">One more comment, from Hector:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a> Rondon on the Cards' 9-run 8th: "That was a weird, weird inning. First time I've seen something like that"</p>— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/status/888528987873476609">July 21, 2017</a>
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<p id="UHao7Y">Weird or whatever, the Cubs, I believe, are going to have to find some other relief solutions. I would imagine they’ll make a pen move before Saturday’s game. Grimm was likely heading to Iowa when <span>Kyle Hendricks</span> is activated next week, so why not send Grimm down now and bring up a fresh arm? Then that reliever could be sent down for Hendricks. <span>Brian Duensing</span>, <span>Koji Uehara</span> and <span>Wade Davis</span> didn’t throw in Friday’s game, so at least those three should be available out of the pen Saturday.</p>
<p id="Qinhso">And not to put any pressure on, but the Cubs really need a strong outing from <span>Jon Lester</span> in Saturday’s game, and hopefully seven innings’ worth. This game does, fortunately, count as only one loss. And the fact that <span>Kris Bryant</span> couldn’t play in this one (and probably won’t play Saturday, either) didn’t really affect this game one way or another. This loss is all on the bullpen.</p>
<p id="wzLJSv">And it ended only 30 minutes or so before a big storm hit the area around Wrigley Field, so at least there’s that.</p>
<p id="6In7li">Lester’s opponent Saturday will be <span>Adam Wainwright</span>. A reminder that Saturday’s game time is 3:05 p.m. CT.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/7/21/16013032/cubs-cardinals-recap-jake-arrieta-carl-edwards-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2017-07-21T16:05:02-05:002017-07-21T16:05:02-05:00Overflow thread 3: Cubs vs. Cardinals, Friday 7/21, 1:20 CT
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<figcaption>Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="IWxmJz">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/7/21/16000216/overflow-thread-3-cubs-vs-cardinals-friday-7-21-1-20-ctAl Yellon2017-07-21T15:20:01-05:002017-07-21T15:20:01-05:00Overflow thread 2: Cubs vs. Cardinals, Friday 7/21, 1:20 CT
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<figcaption>Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="IWxmJz">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/7/21/16000212/overflow-thread-2-cubs-vs-cardinals-friday-7-21-1-20-ctAl Yellon2017-07-21T14:20:01-05:002017-07-21T14:20:01-05:00Overflow thread 1: Cubs vs. Cardinals, Friday 7/21, 1:20 CT
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<figcaption>Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="IWxmJz">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/7/21/16000204/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-cardinals-friday-7-21-1-20-ctAl Yellon2017-07-21T13:15:02-05:002017-07-21T13:15:02-05:00First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Cardinals, Friday 7/21, 1:20 CT
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<figcaption>Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="WLksSK">Go get ‘em, Jake.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/7/21/16000178/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-cardinals-friday-7-21-1-20-ctAl Yellon2017-07-21T11:30:02-05:002017-07-21T11:30:02-05:00Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals preview, Friday 7/21, 1:20 CT
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<figcaption>Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs are going for their seventh win in a row.</p> <p id="xd18M6">Since the All-Star break:</p>
<p id="gBQhzh">Cubs 6-0<br><a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> 2-5</p>
<p id="NJk5GA">And that’s how quickly a 5½-game lead can evaporate. The Cubs, who trailed the Brewers by that margin at the break, now are behind by just one game (and are a game ahead in the loss column).</p>
<p id="4fSOKO">It would be nice to think that the Cubs could finish this weekend in first place, but even if they win this series from the Cardinals, the Brewers are spending the weekend playing the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> in Philadelphia. As I did last weekend when those two teams met in Milwaukee, I hope the Phillies can take one of the three while the Cubs are taking care of business at Wrigley.</p>
<p id="p7njSQ">Here are today’s particulars.</p>
<p id="Yv7Z7W"><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
<blockquote><p id="iY5t2L">Heyward RF, Zobrist 2B, Rizzo 1B, Contreras C, Schwarber LF, Happ CF, Russell SS, Baez 3B, Arrieta P</p></blockquote>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here is today's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a> lineup for the homestand opener against the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/STLCards?src=hash">#STLCards</a>.<br><br>Game preview: <a href="https://t.co/DjeK0ySwEz">https://t.co/DjeK0ySwEz</a> <a href="https://t.co/19nklDyobg">pic.twitter.com/19nklDyobg</a></p>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/888404814111092737">July 21, 2017</a>
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<p id="Ilx6aD">The <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> lineup was not available at posting time. Please check <a href="http://www.twitter.com/bleedcubbieblue">the BCB Twitter feed</a> for the Cardinals lineup.</p>
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<span>Jake Arrieta</span> vs. <span>Carlos Martinez</span>
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<cite>Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<cite>Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="ktKpkp">Jake Arrieta’s last five starts: 2.97 ERA, 1.187 WHIP. That’s the kind of performance we had hoped to get from him all year. That includes three really outstanding starts and two mediocre ones. Hopefully he gets some kind of consistency going now.</p>
<p id="TJR342">He has made two starts against the Cardinals this year, with a total of 12 innings in which he’s allowed four earned runs (3.00 ERA, 1.167 WHIP). Those numbers are pretty close to those “last five starts” numbers. Again, hoping this is a sign that Jake is going to have a good second half.</p>
<p id="m7RStZ"><span>Carlos Martinez</span> is always tough on the Cubs, and this year is no exception: 1.93 ERA, 1.071 WHIP in two starts covering 14 innings, in which he’s struck out 17.</p>
<p id="lnMDDZ">His last five starts: 4.97 ERA, 1.034 WHIP, seven home runs allowed in 29 innings. That suggests that maybe the Cubs can get to him today.</p>
<p id="7GbcJR">Today's game is on ABC7 Chicago. It’s also on MLB Network (outside the Chicago and St. Louis markets).</p>
<p id="y4SIM1"><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?ymd=20140401#date=7/21/2017">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_21_stlmlb_chnmlb_1#game=2017_07_21_stlmlb_chnmlb_1,game_state=Live">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p id="cOzi2Y"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2017/CHN201707210.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a></p>
<p id="G92wAe"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/522902/pregame">SB Nation game preview</a></p>
<p id="AScVZw">Please visit our SB Nation <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinal</a>s site <a href="http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Viva el Birdos</a>. If you do go there to interact with Cardinals 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%2F21%2F16000254%2Fchicago-cubs-st-louis-cardinals-preview-friday" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p id="Y7OFS4">Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/7/21/16000254/chicago-cubs-st-louis-cardinals-preview-fridayAl Yellon