Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Dodgers Tuesday game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2018-06-27T08:00:08-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/172589052018-06-27T08:00:08-05:002018-06-27T08:00:08-05:00Cubs 9, Dodgers 4: The Javier Baez show
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<figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Javy did it all, at the plate and in the field.</p> <p id="X63WwX"><span>Kris Bryant</span> hit the disabled list for the first time in his career, and so <span>Javier Baez</span> took KB’s place at third base, and also in the third spot in the lineup.</p>
<p id="7SyTuy">Both of those seemed to agree with him Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. Javy showed off some of his typical Javy defense and also went 4-for-5 with two home runs, including a grand slam, and the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> broke their five-game losing streak in style with <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2018_06_26_chnmlb_lanmlb_1">a 9-4 win over the Dodgers</a>.</p>
<p id="mV3e2d">This game didn’t start off that way. Instead, the first four innings looked a lot like Monday’s game, with the Dodgers taking a 1-0 lead in the second and both starting pitchers, <span>Jon Lester</span> and <span>Ross Stripling</span>. keeping the score down.</p>
<p id="JmkqNd">Part of that was thanks to Javy. After the Dodgers had scored that second-inning run, an error by <span>Ian Happ</span> advanced <span>Cody Bellinger</span> to third. This would turn out to be important, as <span>Yasiel Puig</span>, the next hitter, bounced a ball to Javy. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Cubs/videos/10156245044985659/">Here, watch what happened [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Cubs/videos/10156245044985659/">Báez starts unconventional double play</a><p>Heads-up Javy!</p>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Cubs/">Chicago Cubs</a> on Tuesday, June 26, 2018</blockquote></div>
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<p id="Xn5Rmq">Puig hit a 3-0 pitch right to Javy, who managed to catch Bellinger in a rundown. Frankly, the Cubs have had some rundowns this year that were not handled well. This one was, and after Bellinger was tagged out, Baez made a snap throw over to first base, where Puig had strayed too far off the base and was tagged out by <span>Anthony Rizzo</span>.</p>
<p id="HHF5UZ">It’s likely that no other Cubs infielder would have seen Puig do that, or be able to throw so quickly and accurately to get that out, and maybe no other infielder, period, makes that play.</p>
<p id="SOkLC7">That kept the score 1-0 through the top of the fifth. <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/baezs-15th-homer-of-season/c-2201638283">With two out, Javy! [VIDEO]</a></p>
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<p id="dnA8gn">Baez’s 15th homer of the year not only tied the game, it produced this fun fact:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Javier Báez has now homered from all 9 spots in the order as a starter in his MLB career. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a></p>— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) <a href="https://twitter.com/ckamka/status/1011813792664211461?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2018</a>
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<p id="S1eHF6">I haven’t seen any research on this, but I can’t imagine too many other players have done that — maybe no other players.</p>
<p id="9jSnTG">The Dodgers, though, took the lead in the bottom of the inning. Bellinger singled again, and with two out Lester wild-pitched him to second. (Really, <span>Willson Contreras</span> should have blocked that ball better.) <span>Austin Barnes</span> blooped a ball just out of reach of <span>Ben Zobrist</span> at second base, and Bellinger scored to make it 2-1 Dodgers.</p>
<p id="ocsGEB">That just made Javy mad. But before Javy came to the plate, the Cubs had tied the game thanks in part to a Dodgers error. Contreras had singled, and one out later Ian Happ reached on that error. <span>Addison Russell</span> singled in Contreras to tie the game. <span>Tommy La Stella</span> batted for Lester, and at the time I thought that might be a mistake. Lester had thrown only 82 pitches, and with the bullpen so beat up recently, I thought it might have been a good idea to leave Lester in the game, perhaps to bunt, something he’s good at. TLS struck out, but then the offense got going.</p>
<p id="wVcEGx">Zobrist singled, scoring Happ to give the Cubs the lead, and <span>Jason Heyward</span> walked to load the bases. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Cubs/videos/10156245160400659/">And then, Javy. [VIDEO]</a></p>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Cubs/videos/10156245160400659/">Báez drills grand slam</a><p>A triple shy of the cycle, Javy Báez opts for something a little better. #EverybodyIn</p>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Cubs/">Chicago Cubs</a> on Tuesday, June 26, 2018</blockquote></div>
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<p id="hBnCbU">Baez’s slam gave the Cubs a 7-2 lead, and:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Javier Báez: 4th career grand slam.<br>He has more than Bryant (3) & Rizzo (3) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a></p>— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) <a href="https://twitter.com/ckamka/status/1011823130275467264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2018</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Those are the ONLY <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> grand slams at Dodger Stadium<a href="https://t.co/3XrU2I1Mf5">https://t.co/3XrU2I1Mf5</a></p>— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) <a href="https://twitter.com/ckamka/status/1011826349957410816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2018</a>
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<p id="aHeVSa">The Cubs now led 7-2, and if you were a bit worried because of the blown five-run lead Sunday, you had cause to be. The lead was extended to 8-2 in the eighth on an RBI single by Contreras, but the Dodgers put two runs across in the bottom of that inning. The runs were charged to <span>Brian Duensing</span>, but some bad pitching by <span>Anthony Bass</span>, including a wild pitch and two stolen bases when the Cubs left third base uncovered in a shift, allowed the runs to score.</p>
<p id="IhW5QH">Fortunately, that was it; <span>Justin Wilson</span> finished up uneventfully in the ninth inning after the Cubs had scored one final run on an RBI single by <span>Albert Almora Jr.</span>, and the five-game losing streak was history.</p>
<p id="tjL9sM">For Baez, it was his second four-hit game this season and the third five-RBI game of his career. Baez now ranks tied for sixth in the N.L. with 16 home runs, and second in the league with 56 RBI, for whatever that flawed number is worth. His .555 SLG ranks fourth in the N.L. and his .870 OPS now leads all Cubs hitters. Javy might not be elected to the All-Star team, but he certainly deserves to be there. More Javy:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> with 15 doubles, 5 triples & 15 home runs before the All-Star Break<br>(since All-Star Game began in 1933)<br><br>1958 Ernie Banks<br>1962 Billy Williams<br>2018 Javier Báez</p>— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) <a href="https://twitter.com/ckamka/status/1011829383470944257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2018</a>
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<p id="6nhZ7Q">Other Cubs having good offensive nights: Zobrist and Russell both had three hits to help pace the 15-hit attack. And after a few games without much plate discipline, the Cubs also drew five walks in this game. The Cubs have now drawn 298 walks in 77 games, an average of 3.87 per game, and a pace for 627, which would still be good for third-best in franchise history.</p>
<p id="4jloEx">And so, despite the losing streak, the Cubs trail the <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> by just 2½ games, and they’re down only two in the loss column. If you’ve been on the ledge, you can climb off now. <span>Brandon Morrow</span> is expected to be activated from the disabled list for Wednesday’s game, which will take a lot of pressure off the bullpen. <span>Kyle Hendricks</span> will start Wednesday night for the Cubs against Dodgers lefthander <span>Alex Wood</span>. Game time again is 9:10 p.m. CT and TV coverage Wednesday will be on NBC Sports Chicago Plus.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/6/27/17509194/cubs-dodgers-recap-javier-baez-jon-lester-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2018-06-26T23:55:02-05:002018-06-26T23:55:02-05:00Overflow thread 3: Cubs vs. Dodgers, Tuesday 6/26, 9:10 CT
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<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="qWaLEk">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/6/26/17494770/overflow-thread-3-cubs-vs-dodgers-tuesday-6-26-9-10-ctAl Yellon2018-06-26T23:10:01-05:002018-06-26T23:10:01-05:00Overflow thread 2: Cubs vs. Dodgers, Tuesday 6/26, 9:10 CT
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<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="qWaLEk">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/6/26/17494758/overflow-thread-2-cubs-vs-dodgers-tuesday-6-26-9-10-ctAl Yellon2018-06-26T22:10:01-05:002018-06-26T22:10:01-05:00Overflow thread 1: Cubs vs. Dodgers, Tuesday 6/26, 9:10 CT
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<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="qWaLEk">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/6/26/17494754/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-dodgers-tuesday-6-26-9-10-ctAl Yellon2018-06-26T21:05:02-05:002018-06-26T21:05:02-05:00First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Dodgers, Tuesday 6/26, 9:10 CT
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<figcaption>Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="GxhS8Y">Go get ‘em, Jon.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/6/26/17494710/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-dodgers-tuesday-6-26-9-10-ctAl Yellon2018-06-26T19:00:01-05:002018-06-26T19:00:01-05:00Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers preview, Tuesday 6/26, 9:10 CT
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<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs have a five-game losing streak to break.</p> <p id="3sVbLP"><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/6/26/17508004/cubs-roster-moves-kris-bryant-dl-bullpen">ICYMI, here’s the story</a> about Kris Bryant’s trip to the disabled list.</p>
<p id="q9dUZG">Other notes:</p>
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<li id="pNlLZV">The Cubs have lost six consecutive regular season games at Dodger Stadium dating to 2016, their longest skid there since a six-game drought from June 17-Sept. 1, 1991. The Cubs haven’t lost seven in a row at Dodger Stadium since a 10-game streak from May 16, 1965-June 15, 1966.</li>
<li id="7LfpOs">Six years ago today, <span>Anthony Rizzo</span> made his Cubs debut vs. the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">New York Mets</a>, going 2-for-4 with a double and RBI.</li>
<li id="5tj1ta">With three weeks to go til the All-Star Break, <span>Javier Baez</span> is only the fifth middle infielder in franchise history to reach 51 RBI prior to the Break (since 1933), joining Ryne Sandberg (57 RBI in 1990, 52 RBI in 1984), <span>Starlin Castro</span> (52 RBI in 2014), Billy Herman (51 RBI in 1936) and <span>Addison Russell</span> (51 RBI in 2016).</li>
<li id="cqVpnU">Cubs outfielders have 16 assists thus far, tied for the most in the N.L. with the New York Mets. Kyle Schwarber’s eight outfield assists lead the National League and are tied for the major league lead. </li>
<li id="gpC119">The Cubs were 16-15 with a +21 run differential through May 6. Since May 7, the Cubs have gone 26-19 with a +59 run differential, outscoring opponents 212-152 during that stretch. </li>
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<p id="3SLQPg">Also, this: If you are concerned about the Cubs’ current losing streak, I call your attention to the last 12 games played by the <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a>, in which they have gone 3-9 and been shut out four times, including the last two by the under-.500 <a href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Rays</a> — and those last two games were started by Washington’s two best pitchers, <span>Gio Gonzalez</span> and <span>Max Scherzer</span>. The Nats had five total hits in those last two games.</p>
<p id="nFOKbr">It happens, even to good teams. The Nats will start winning again. So will the Cubs. Patience.</p>
<p id="2J54Zb">Here are today’s particulars.</p>
<p id="Vergm4"><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here is tonight's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> lineup.<br><br>Game preview: <a href="https://t.co/c2DKjFS4RB">https://t.co/c2DKjFS4RB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EverybodyIn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EverybodyIn</a> <a href="https://t.co/uSW99gyrZ1">pic.twitter.com/uSW99gyrZ1</a></p>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1011738653880614913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2018</a>
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<p id="qkc1QJ"><a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> lineup: </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tonight’s Dodger lineup vs. Cubs:<br>Hernández SS<br>Turner 3B<br>Kemp LF<br>Muncy 1B<br>Forsythe 2B<br>Bellinger CF<br>Puig RF<br>Barnes C<br>Stripling P<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dodgers</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Biofreeze?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Biofreeze</a> <a href="https://t.co/JLOlfQ4bYN">pic.twitter.com/JLOlfQ4bYN</a></p>— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1011747751724572672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2018</a>
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<h2 id="5HtnwG">
<span>Jon Lester</span>, LHP vs. <span>Ross Stripling</span>, RHP</h2>
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<cite>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<cite>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="TMb2Gf">This game is a pitching rematch of the game <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201806200.shtml">six days ago at Wrigley Field</a>. Ross Stripling threw a pretty good game, allowing three runs in six innings. <span>Kyle Schwarber</span> homered off him.</p>
<p id="nB0kw1">But Jon Lester was outstanding. He threw seven shutout innings, going 119 pitches, and that continued his run of great pitching this year. Last 12 starts for Lester: 1.67 ERA, 0.978 WHIP in 75⅔ innings, which is probably the best run like this for a Cubs starter since <span>Jake Arrieta</span>’s great second half in 2015. Lester, who is averaging more than six innings per start over that 12-start span, is carrying this rotation.</p>
<p id="jdYVZc">We need that to continue.</p>
<p id="OkkjcF"><a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/jon-lesters-high-wire-act/">Here’s a Fangraphs article from today</a> that says Lester is outperforming his peripherals, and there’s a fair chance that could continue.</p>
<p id="tOtIT2">Today’s game is on WGN. It’s also on ESPN (outside the Chicago and Los Angeles markets).</p>
<p id="DJ6BZg"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/2018/06/26">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=2018_06_26_chnmlb_lanmlb_1">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p id="iDRiK8"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2018/LAN201806260.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a></p>
<p id="AScVZw"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/537082/pregame">SB Nation game preview</a></p>
<p id="c01E3n">Please visit our SB Nation <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> site <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/">True Blue LA</a>. If you do go there to interact with Dodgers 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 2018 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used during 2017. 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="cWIBoH">Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/6/26/17494646/chicago-cubs-los-angeles-dodgers-preview-tuesdayAl Yellon