Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Dodgers Thursday game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2018-06-28T17:15:23-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/172589132018-06-28T17:15:23-05:002018-06-28T17:15:23-05:00Cubs 11, Dodgers 5: Coming from behind is fun. Right, Buehler? Buehler?
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<figcaption>Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs blew open a close game with a seven-run seventh.</p> <p id="UxTVPT">The <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> should thank <span>Dave Roberts</span> for his help in this win.</p>
<p id="VXQUZj"><a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> manager Roberts had <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> on a pitch limit, as Kershaw is still not 100 percent after a DL stint. And thus Kershaw, who had stymied the Cubs on one run in five innings, was removed from the game after 68 pitches.</p>
<p id="FvFYf5">The Cubs took advantage of the Dodgers bullpen, particularly one of their top young pitchers, rookie <span>Walker Buehler</span>, to post nine runs over the sixth and seventh innings on their way to <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2018_06_28_chnmlb_lanmlb_1">an 11-5 blowout win</a>. That split this four-game set and won the season series from the Dodgers four games to three. Keep that last fact in mind; it might not mean much to you in June, but if the Cubs and Dodgers meet in the postseason and need a tiebreaker to determine home field, the Cubs have it.</p>
<p id="F1Cct9">The Dodgers dribbed and drabbed off <span>Jose Quintana</span>, scoring single runs off him in the second, third and fourth innings. An RBI single by <span>Addison Russell</span> in the fourth had made it 2-1 Dodgers before that third run scored off Q. Once again, Quintana didn’t have a terrible outing... it just wasn’t a crisp, good one, 5⅓ innings, seven hits, three walks, three earned runs. He’s going to have to be better than that in the second half.</p>
<p id="soDWGf">Walker Buehler replaced Kershaw to start the sixth and it took just two pitches for <span>Albert Almora Jr.</span> to <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/almoras-long-solo-home-run/c-2207241483">make it 3-2 [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
<p id="wxhkof">That ball: <em><strong>Crushed!</strong></em></p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Barrel: Albert Almora Jr. (2) [CHC] off Walker Buehler [LAD]: 107.7 mph, 23 degrees (Home Run - 435 ft)</p>— MLBExitVelocity (@MLBExitVelocity) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBExitVelocity/status/1012435728255643648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2018</a>
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<p id="6C5HIY">The Cubs weren’t done in that sixth inning, either. One out later, <span>Willson Contreras</span> singled and <span>Anthony Rizzo</span> doubled him to third. Addison Russell hit a sacrifice fly to center field to tie the game.</p>
<p id="URjbUx"><span>Steve Cishek</span> replaced Quintana and stopped the Dodgers in the bottom of the sixth.</p>
<p id="p3iPxr">And then the fun began. <span>Ian Happ</span> led off the seventh with a double and <span>Kyle Schwarber</span> walked. That brought <span>Jason Heyward</span> to the plate; Heyward hadn’t started this game but came in on a double switch when Cishek entered.</p>
<p id="CnIhgG"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/heywards-go-ahead-double-in-7th/c-2207299683">J-Hey smacked a double to right-center [VIDEO]</a> to give the Cubs a 4-3 lead. The change in Heyward since he figured out that “hands” thing has been remarkable. He barrels up the bat on almost all his at-bats. There are many few weak grounders to second; even his outs seem to be hard-hit. This is the Heyward we thought we were getting two and a half years ago. Better late than never, right?</p>
<p id="a34hzw">This inning wasn’t even close to being over. Buehler was out of the game now, replaced by <span>Erik Goeddel</span>. It didn’t matter, not to Cubs batters, anyway.</p>
<p id="SBWUXO">Almora, first to face <span>Goeddel</span>, popped a ball up to first baseman <span>Max Muncy</span>, who lost the ball in the tough midday sun. The Dodgers don’t play a lot of afternoon games, so perhaps that was a factor. The ball dropped for a gift infield single; Schwarber scored to make it 5-3.</p>
<p id="CsjzAi">Then we saw more <span>Javier Baez</span> doing great Javy things. He laid down a perfect bunt along the third-base line and that infield single loaded the bases.</p>
<p id="bPnUcl">Contreras struck out — the first out of the inning. That brought up Rizzo, who cleared the bases with a long double and the rout was on at 8-3.</p>
<p id="Ra8xJx">Rizzo’s day off Wednesday (which wasn’t a full day off since he entered in the ninth at first base) must have envigorated him. He had four hits and drove in those three runs and hopefully, this is the start of another hot streak for him. Not that batting average means all that much these days, but Rizzo’s 4-for-5 afternoon tacked 10 points onto his BA, raising it from .233 to .243, pretty good for one day’s work in the middle of the season.</p>
<p id="wxl8Bv">Russell put the cherry on top of the seven-run seventh with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Cubs/videos/10156249238155659/">a two-run homer [VIDEO]</a>. his fourth of the season.</p>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Cubs/videos/10156249238155659/">Russell's two-run homer</a><p>Addison Russell puts the finishing touches on a seven-run frame. #EverybodyIn</p>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Cubs/">Chicago Cubs</a> on Thursday, June 28, 2018</blockquote></div>
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<p id="QD5MUX">The seven-run inning was the biggest by anyone against the Dodgers all season.</p>
<p id="IQ4pNB">The Cubs tacked on another run in the eighth on an RBI single by Baez. Javy had himself quite a series:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Javy does love LA. With his RBI single in 8th, he's 9-for-16 with 7 RBIs at Dodger Stadium this year. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a></p>— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/status/1012452094379356160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2018</a>
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<p id="PWWibq"><span>Luke Farrell</span> threw a scoreless eighth but gave the Dodgers a consolation two-run homer in the ninth. That homer tied a Dodgers franchise record:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Justin Turner's 2-run shot gives the Dodgers 53 HR in June, matching their franchise record, set last June</p>— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) <a href="https://twitter.com/ericstephen/status/1012457559117127680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2018</a>
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<p id="YHUehO">And it’s not far from a MLB record:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Only 4 NL teams in history have hit more HR in a month than the 53 by the Dodgers this June:<br><br>56 -- 1999 Reds<br>55 -- 1947 NY Giants<br>55 -- 2000 Cardinals<br>55 -- 2003 Braves <br><br>MLB record is 58</p>— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) <a href="https://twitter.com/ericstephen/status/1012458160869658625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2018</a>
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<p id="ngMsQN">So the Cubs aren’t the only team serving up homers to the Dodgers this month.</p>
<p id="G6dCEA">Anyway, after Farrell had thrown 31 pitches, <span>Brandon Morrow</span> was summoned for the final out. He allowed a seeing-eye single, but got <span>Cody Bellinger</span> to fly to center to end it and the Cubs had their hard-earned series split. A 2-6 road trip wasn’t what any of us had envisioned when it began, but splitting a series in a ballpark that’s been very, very tough for the Cubs over the last few years is a fine result, I think. </p>
<p id="zHoQ4M">The win moves the Cubs to within two games of the first-place <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a>. Milwaukee is beginning a four-game series against the hottest team in baseball — the <a href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a> — tonight. Perhaps the Reds can return the favor to the Cubs and sweep the Brewers this weekend.</p>
<p id="aeKA31">The Cubs return home Friday afternoon to begin an eight-game homestand. First up is a three-game series against the <a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Twins</a>, the first time they’ve visited Wrigley Field in nine years. <span>Mike Montgomery</span> starts for the Cubs Friday and <span>Jose Berrios</span> will go for the Twins. A reminder of Friday’s unusual starting time: 4:05 p.m. CT. TV coverage Friday is via NBC Sports Chicago.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/6/28/17516098/cubs-dodgers-recap-anthony-rizzo-addison-russell-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2018-06-28T16:10:02-05:002018-06-28T16:10:02-05:00Overflow thread 2: Cubs vs. Dodgers, Thursday 6/28, 2:10 CT
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<figcaption>Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="EBUcKA">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/6/28/17494828/overflow-thread-2-cubs-vs-dodgers-thursday-6-28-2-10-ctAl Yellon2018-06-28T15:10:01-05:002018-06-28T15:10:01-05:00Overflow thread 1: Cubs vs. Dodgers, Thursday 6/28, 2:10 CT
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<figcaption>Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="EBUcKA">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/6/28/17494820/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-dodgers-thursday-6-28-2-10-ctAl Yellon2018-06-28T14:05:02-05:002018-06-28T14:05:02-05:00First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Dodgers, Thursday 6/28, 9:10 CT
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<figcaption>Photo by David Banks/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="GxhS8Y">Go get ‘em, </p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/6/28/17494716/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-dodgers-thursday-6-28-9-10-ctAl Yellon2018-06-28T12:00:02-05:002018-06-28T12:00:02-05:00Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers preview, Thursday 6/28, 2:10 CT
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<figcaption>Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs go for the series split.</p> <p id="3sVbLP">If you think the Cubs have had a rough month of June, consider the plight of the <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a>, another good team:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">(1/2) More on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Nationals?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Nationals</a>’ record-breaking month of futility. With 3 games left in June, all <a href="https://twitter.com/Phillies?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Phillies</a>, the Nats have been shutout 7 times and a have a great chance to become the first team since the 1976 Padres to be shut out 8 times in a calendar month. Led by a 24-year-old ...</p>— Mark Camps (@mcamps) <a href="https://twitter.com/mcamps/status/1012155484327952384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2018</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">(2/2) ... outfielder named Dave Winfield, the Padres were blanked 8 times in July 1976, going 10-20, averaging 2.3 runs p/g. According to my occasionally flawed research, since expansion in 1961, no team has been blanked 9 times in a calendar month. I dare you to prove me wrong.</p>— Mark Camps (@mcamps) <a href="https://twitter.com/mcamps/status/1012158220784173057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2018</a>
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<p id="reqrlB">The Cubs are 13-12 this month with three games remaining in the month. Win them all and that’s a 16-12 month, which would be... just fine.</p>
<p id="o5CoSa">Game notes:</p>
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<li id="A6qunv">Today marks the Cubs’ 44th road game of the season, tied with the <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> for the most games away from home by any major league team thus far. Conversely and not surprisingly, the Cubs have played the fewest home games of any team in the majors with 35, and yet still possess the fourth-best record in the N.L.</li>
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<span>Jon Lester</span> has wrapped up June a perfect 5-0 with a 1.13 ERA (4 ER/32 IP) in five starts this month while limiting opponents to a .477 OPS. He joins <span>Zach Eflin</span> (5-0, 1.76) as the only pitchers in all of baseball with five wins this month while Lester’s 1.13 ERA leads the National League. Sounds like a potential N.L. Pitcher of the Month award for Jon. Also, Lester’s 1.13 ERA is third-lowest by any qualifying Cubs lefthander in June dating to 1913, trailing only Larry French (0.26 ERA in June 1936) and Hippo Vaughn (0.76 ERA in June 1917).</li>
<li id="64abm6">Anthony Rizzo, who this week marked the sixth anniversary of his debut with the Cubs on June 26, 2012, already ranks 13th in franchise history with 177 home runs, third most by a left-handed hitter behind only Billy Williams (392) and Bill Nicholson (205) … Rizzo’s .858 OPS trails only Williams (.867) for best by a left-handed hitter in franchise history.</li>
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<p id="nCRb6v">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 today's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> lineup for the series finale. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EverybodyIn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EverybodyIn</a><br><br>Stream live on Twitter: <a href="https://t.co/jtwOK0raMS">https://t.co/jtwOK0raMS</a> <a href="https://t.co/w1Yu8ELl6p">pic.twitter.com/w1Yu8ELl6p</a></p>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1012369603777974272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2018</a>
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<p id="qkc1QJ">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> lineup was not available at posting time. Please check <a href="http://www.twitter.com/bleedcubbieblue">the BCB Twitter feed</a> for the Dodgers lineup.</p>
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<span>Jose Quintana</span>, LHP vs. <span>Clayton Kershaw</span>, LHP</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">Jose Quintana has shown flashes of the guy we thought the Cubs were getting in the trade last year. But he’s failed to be consistent and has thrown six innings only once in his last four starts and just seven times overall in 15 starts this year.</p>
<p id="fTa2tH">Q has two regular-season starts vs. the Dodgers, but they were in 2012 and 2014, so likely not relevant to today, although he has a 0.00 ERA against them in 14 innings (he did allow five unearned runs in one of those games). He started <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201710190.shtml">Game 5 of the 2017 NLCS</a> against the Dodgers and trust me, you don’t want to look at that boxscore link (and you probably remember the pounding he took). He’ll need to do better today.</p>
<p id="PSdgVI">Clayton Kershaw has been injured much of this year, with biceps tendinitis as well as a back strain. Despite that, he’s made nine starts and been decent in most of them. In his only start since his latest return from the DL, he threw just three innings and 55 pitches.</p>
<p id="vWvBci">His last regular-season start against the Cubs was <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN201705280.shtml">May 28, 2017 at Dodger Stadium</a>, and the Cubs hit him pretty hard: nine hits and four runs in four innings, including home runs by <span>Anthony Rizzo</span>, <span>Javier Baez</span> and <span>Willson Contreras</span>. He made two starts against the Cubs in last year’s NLCS and allowed three total runs in 11 innings, and <span>Albert Almora Jr.</span> homered off him in one of those games.</p>
<p id="j73Mdl">So maybe he’s a bit susceptible to the long ball. Let’s hope the Cubs bring their proverbial hitting shoes today.</p>
<p id="qCO2BO">Today’s game is on NBC Sports Chicago. It’s also on MLB Network (outside the Chicago and Los Angeles markets).</p>
<p id="DJ6BZg"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/2018/06/28">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_28_chnmlb_lanmlb_1">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p id="iDRiK8"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2018/LAN201806280.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a></p>
<p id="AScVZw"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/537084/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/2018/6/28/17494662/chicago-cubs-los-angeles-dodgers-preview-thursdayAl Yellon