Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Pirates Sunday game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2019-07-15T09:30:00-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/204518862019-07-15T09:30:00-05:002019-07-15T09:30:00-05:002019 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 93
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<img alt="MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/e12uBytVjj4DCPd6eIymYWDRx6Y=/260x458:2517x1963/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64728308/usa_today_13045399.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>How sweep it is! Cubs sweep Pirates with 8-3 win</p> <p id="rLhxWD"><span>Jason Heyward</span> hasn’t gotten a ton of the cover photo treatment in the history of this series. Generally, the player who was the Superhero gets that spot and let’s face it, Jason Heyward hasn’t felt too much like a Superhero very often in his time as a Cub. Sure, he made a couple of catches here and there (surely more than a couple) to save a game. But his bat has always lagged a bit.</p>
<p id="XNY52d">Until this year. With his two-run homer Sunday, he now has a line of .275/.359/.474. All of those numbers are bests as a Cub. He’s now only a few points behind his highest OPS of his career, way back in his rookie season when he put up a line of .277/.393/.456. He appears to be a shoo-in to reach 20 homers for the first time since his second season, 2012 when he had 27. He’s got a lot of work to do if he’s going to reach that total, but even without it, this season has been an unqualified success. His wRC+ is up to 115 and his fWAR up to 1.6, despite still registering a negative number on defense. </p>
<p id="Gb1Ehm">I will point out statistical or numerical quirks at times in this space. Particularly when the same number keeps coming up. In this instance, I’ll point out that the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> allowed three runs for the fifth time in their last six games. They have won four of those five games and five of six overall. The one game they didn’t allow three runs was Saturday when the Cubs had built a 10-0 lead and <span>Jon Lester</span> was pounding the strike zone to make a comeback extremely difficult for the <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a>. Even then, a couple of really close plays could have gone the other way and limited the damage. </p>
<p id="YnptsN">Sometimes a number is just an oddity. And to be sure, that the number is precisely three is a bit of random luck. But that they’ve allowed four or fewer runs in six straight games, is not entirely coincidence. As the weather reached sweltering, some pitchers started to show some fatigue and the games were piling up heading into the break, the Cubs gave some of their pitchers extra rest even ahead of the break. The pitching has responded very favorably. </p>
<p id="YhEIWi">Once again, the Cubs look poised for a strong post All-Star break surge. Three straight wins coming out of the break is a great start. Suddenly, they’ve matched their largest divisional lead of the season at 2½ games. Six games remain on the homestand, maybe the Cubs can put a bit more distance between themselves and the rest of the division. Just the kind of incentive Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have to think big in adding to this team. </p>
<p id="539Up1">With that, we turn our attention to yesterday’s game as we look at what WPA had to say about Heroes and Goats. As always the Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA (Win Probability Added — <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/3/28/17159170/cubs-heroes-and-goats-2018-season-primer">here’s a good explanation of how WPA works</a>) and are not in any way subjective. Many days WPA will not tell the story of what happened, but often it can give at least a glimpse to who rose to the occasion in a high leverage moment or who didn’t get the job done in that moment. Also note, for the purposes of Heroes and Goats, we ignore the results of pitchers while they are batting and hitters while they are pitching. With that, we get to the results.</p>
<p id="E8W2SC"><strong>Game 93, July 14: </strong>Cubs 8, Pirates 3 (50-43)</p>
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<iframe src="https://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=wins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2019-07-14&team=Cubs&dh=0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="450" width="450" style="border:1px solid black;"></iframe><br><span style="font-size:9pt;">Source: <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/wins.aspx?date=2019-07-14&team=Cubs&dh=0&season=2019">FanGraphs</a></span>
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<p id="YbxKKq"><strong>THREE HEROES: </strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="ywXCQk">
<strong>Superhero: </strong>Jason Heyward (.136). Only one hit in four at bats on the day, but that hit was a big one. Jason hit a two-run homer that gave the Cubs a 5-3 lead and they never looked back afterwards. </li>
<li id="Bh1XgI">
<strong>Hero: </strong><span>Robel Garcia</span> (.126). Robel had two doubles in four at bats. The other two at bats were strikeouts. He drove in a run and scored one. As long as there is feast, the famine is pretty easy to swallow. So far so good for one if the really neat stories of the year. </li>
<li id="bcFfgh">
<strong>Sidekick: </strong><span>Anthony Rizzo</span> (.116). Anthony had two hits in four at bats as well. Both were singles, but both times he ultimately came around to score. He drove in one run. </li>
</ul>
<p id="vDrmCR"><strong>THREE GOATS:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="2GLFi0">
<strong>Billy Goat: </strong><span>Javier Baez</span> (-.086). Javy had one hit in five at bats. He scored a run. He struck out once. He lands here largely because this was a very positive game for the Cubs. </li>
<li id="kTPm3W">
<strong>Goat: </strong><span>Jose Quintana</span> (-.051). After the Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, Jose was tagged for three runs in the top of the third. He stayed around and completed a minimum qualification quality start. That is six innings and three runs allowed. He allowed a total of six hits, two walks and struck out four. </li>
<li id="h61rj5">
<strong>Kid: </strong><span>Kyle Schwarber</span> (-.003). Tough crowd with a game that ended up lopsided. Kyle had a solo homer and drew a walk in four plate appearances. With a couple of good games already since the break, he’s moved back into positive territory with his bat (wRC+ 101). His line now reads .229/.325/.465. His slugging percentage is pretty much where it always is (.467/.467/.465 the last three years). </li>
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<p id="vu4Zi5"><strong>WPA Play of the Game: </strong>Jason Heyward batted with two outs and a runner on first, the score tied at three in the fifth inning. He had a two-run homer to give the Cubs the lead for good. (.265)</p>
<p id="aVTBn9">*Pirates Play of the Game: <span>Bryan Reynolds</span> batted with one out and runners on first and second with the Pirates trailing 1-0 in the third inning. His RBI single tied the game at one. (.147)</p>
<p id="kmO9Y2"><strong>Cumulative Standings Top/Bottom 3: </strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="sckhKw">Anthony Rizzo 19</li>
<li id="KIVZtJ">
<span>Kris Bryant</span> 18.5</li>
<li id="VQa2n9">
<span>Willson Contreras</span> 11</li>
<li id="7XRY7f">
<span>Albert Almora Jr.</span> -8.5</li>
<li id="s6L0uq">*Carl Edwards -9</li>
<li id="364jxE">
<span>Yu Darvish</span> -11</li>
</ul>
<p id="d4R3nq"><strong>Up Next: </strong>The Cubs open a three game series with the <a href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a> tonight. The Reds started their post All-Star break action by losing two out of three games at Colorado. The Reds have won five of their last 10 and 10 of their last 20. They are just 18-27 away from Cincinnati. Of course, this is still the only non-Cubs team to win a series at Wrigley Field this year. </p>
<p id="bKe0pB">The Cubs send <span>Kyle Hendricks</span> to the mound in the first game of the set. Kyle is 7-7 with a 3.49 ERA on the season in 95⅓ innings . Over his last seven games 3-3 with a 3.89 ERA in 39⅓ innings. He’s lost three straight starts and hasn’t been the same since his start in Los Angeles when he left with shoulder issues. He’s made two starts against the Reds so far this year. One was very good, eight shutout innings, and the other good three runs in six innings. He has a 3.13 ERA over his last five starts against the Reds. Current Reds have 264 plate appearances against Kyle with only a .637 OPS. <span>Scooter Gennett</span> has the most PA (39) and has struggled (.567 OPS). <span>Joey Votto</span> crushes Kyle (35, 1.457). </p>
<p id="fdBGrM">The Reds have their ace <span>Luis Castillo</span> on the hill. Luis is 8-3 with a 2.29 ERA in 106 innings of work. Over his last seven outings, he is 3-2 with a 2.16 ERA in 41⅔ innings. He’s faced the Cubs twice this year, and is 1-1. He’s thrown 12⅓ innings and allowed only three runs. Dating back to last year, Castillo is 2-2 with a 4.10 ERA against the Cubs over his last five starts. </p>
<p id="EVr3ff">The 26-year-old right-handed pitcher has been dominant against right-handed hitters (.487) and is still tough on lefties (.627). He’s not quite as good on the road (.725) as he has been at home (.441). Current Cubs have 169 plate appearances and a .698 OPS. Anthony Rizzo has the most PA (19) and has struggled (.388). Kyle Schwarber has great numbers against the young righty (15, 1.376). </p>
<p id="dHaUTg">Hopefully, Kyle can match the performance of Castillo and the Cubs can sneak one out.</p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/7/15/20694572/2019-cubs-heroes-and-goats-game-93Thomas Smith2019-07-14T17:25:05-05:002019-07-14T17:25:05-05:00Cubs 8, Pirates 3: Sweep!
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<figcaption>Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Now that’s a word we haven’t heard in a while... and it’s all good after an excellent offensive display.</p> <p id="EoYa8C">I think we all knew this <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> team, which had struggled for several weeks playing 50 games in 52 days, had a good stretch in it. Many of us thought the four days off for the All-Star break would rejuvenate these players, after all but three got the rest over the break.</p>
<p id="YDLoNW">So far, so good! The Cubs rode a potent offense, highlighted by three home runs, and completed a three-game sweep of the <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> with <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2019_07_14_pitmlb_chnmlb_1">an 8-3 victory</a> on yet another gorgeous summer afternoon at Wrigley Field.</p>
<p id="htpTpG"><span>Jose Quintana</span> started off strong, allowing just one single in the first two innings, and then the Cubs offense got to work. <span>Anthony Rizzo</span> led off the bottom of the second with a single and <span>Victor Caratini</span> singled him to second. <span>Jason Heyward</span> hit into a double play with Rizzo taking third, and then <span>Robel Garcia</span> <a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-07/14/4b074991-b5581617-c0be7e8d-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">gave the Cubs the lead [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="4zsVWZ"></p>
<p id="e9rfTo">That ball was roped. Garcia, so far, appears as advertised: a hitter who can hit baseballs hard, strikes out a fair amount, and plays average defense.</p>
<p id="355UZS">Unfortunately, Q gave that back and more in the third, thanks to a couple of balls that fell in the outfield. I think that the singles by <span>Trevor Williams</span> and <span>Kevin Newman</span>, the first to center and the second to right, might have been caught if <span>Albert Almora Jr.</span> and Heyward had been in their usual positions. Not that <span>Kris Bryant</span> is a bad outfielder, but he doesn’t have the right-field instincts Heyward does, and Heyward seems much more comfortable in right.</p>
<p id="2pZM0p">Anyway, another single made it 1-0, a sacrifice fly scored a second run for the Pirates, and after a walk to <span>Josh Bell</span>, <span>Jung Ho Kang</span> doubled in the Pirates’ third run of the inning.</p>
<p id="EKqgwn">The Cubs got one of the runs back in the fourth thanks to Quintana... at the bat! With two out, Garcia doubled again down the right-field line. <span>David Bote</span> was given an intentional pass to pitch to Q, which was the right call, considering he was hitting .029 (1-for-34) at the time with 21 strikeouts.</p>
<p id="p0p9yj"><a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-07/14/5d115e92-aa12eda3-8363c692-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Hey, sometimes things just go right. [VIDEO]</a></p>
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<p id="ifSOTM"></p>
<p id="HorH0S">A little blooper by Q just past the outstretched arm of Bell scored Garcia to make it 3-2. That was Quintana’s first RBI in almost two years, since September 29, 2017.</p>
<p id="o8I3tp">Q settled down on the mound and had a 1-2-3 fifth and then the Cubs bats really got to work. With one out in the fifth, Bryant singled and Rizzo singled him to third.</p>
<p id="08melk"><a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-07/14/adca899f-d3be14e0-b13e0a5d-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Victor Caratini batted next. [VIDEO]</a></p>
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<p id="C1sLd3"></p>
<p id="XVVR3W">That was yet another hard-hit ball off Williams, and it went for a sacrifice fly to tie the game, as the throw went toward second base.</p>
<p id="pVb4Nw"><a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-07/14/ae15f026-adbb6af2-6d07e510-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Jason Heyward then gave the Cubs the lead. [VIDEO]</a></p>
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<p id="jhrhiq"></p>
<p id="d5AjsY">Heyward had grounded out twice previously, once into the aforementioned double play, but that ball was well struck for his 15th home run of the season.</p>
<div id="PCp05n">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Last time Jason Heyward hit at least 15 HR in a season was 2012, when he hit 27. He homered off Jamie Moyer, Roy Halladay & Mark Buehrle that year.</p>— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) <a href="https://twitter.com/ckamka/status/1150499431881555968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2019</a>
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<p id="Qy2Vhy">Heyward might not get to 27 homers this year, but 20 seems quite possible. He’s having an excellent year both at the plate and in the field.</p>
<p id="MWdxZf">Quintana got out of the sixth after a one-out single with a double play, and then the Cubs blew the game open in the sixth. <a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-07/14/1c405b95-f6f3ae63-fe090199-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">With one out, Almora batted for Q [VIDEO].</a></p>
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<p id="1LElch">That ball: Crushed!</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pirates?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pirates</a> 3 @ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> 6 [B6-1o]:<br><br>Albert Almora Jr. homers (9): fly ball to LF (solo)<br><br>Hit: 422.91ft, 108.71mph, 22.67° <br><br>Pitch: 89.4mph Four-Seam Fastball (RHP Trevor Williams, 12) <a href="https://t.co/puaMN5tNzB">pic.twitter.com/puaMN5tNzB</a></p>— Home Run Tracker (@DingerTracker) <a href="https://twitter.com/DingerTracker/status/1150501616489050120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2019</a>
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<p id="uDhrbT">Almora’s ninth of the year set a career high for him. Believe it or not, that was the Cubs’ first pinch homer of 2019, and it was the first pinch-homer of Almora’s career.</p>
<p id="YWSBei">That made it 6-3 and one pitch later, <span>Kyle Schwarber</span> <a href="https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-07/14/9b5e0f30-ed727387-6fa67d70-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">made the score 7-3 Cubs [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="dB7jgE"></p>
<p id="dsN00m">You can see the distance, launch angle, etc. of Almora’s homer still on the video board as Schwarber’s ball left the yard. And that ball: <em><strong>Really crushed!</strong></em></p>
<div id="uYwSoE">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pirates?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pirates</a> 3 @ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> 7 [B6-1o]:<br><br>Kyle Schwarber homers (19): fly ball to RF (solo)<br><br>Hit: 436.75ft, 112mph , 30.07° <br><br>Pitch: 91.6mph Four-Seam Fastball (RHP Trevor Williams, 12) <a href="https://t.co/HU7mVzfX6n">pic.twitter.com/HU7mVzfX6n</a></p>— Home Run Tracker (@DingerTracker) <a href="https://twitter.com/DingerTracker/status/1150501644582424576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2019</a>
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<p id="4ntGA6">Surprisingly enough, Clint Hurdle left Williams in for one more batter after that; <span>Javier Baez</span> singled and then the Pirates brought in a relief pitcher. Bryant blooped a single in between three Bucs fielders with Baez taking third, where he scored on a sacrifice fly by Rizzo.</p>
<p id="0cuATi">Two quick three-run innings, with home runs and also runs scored in other ways — that’s the Cubs offense we have been used to seeing over the last few years. It’s good to see this rested bunch start to hit that way again.</p>
<p id="jF7eAs"><span>Brandon Kintzler</span> threw a scoreless seventh, helped out by a double play. <span>Kyle Ryan</span> had a 1-2-3 eighth highlighted by a slick play by Javy to end the frame. </p>
<p id="4IXEGJ"><span>Tyler Chatwood</span>, who last pitched 10 days ago in Pittsburgh, entered to throw the ninth. He allowed a two-out hit down the left-field line that bounced into the seats for what is a book-rule double. This raises an interesting question: What happens when there are nets in that area, which likely happens by next year? That ball would have bounced off the net and back onto the field. Is that in play? Or is it out of play when it hits the net? This is something MLB will have to define before these nets are in place.</p>
<p id="SjBld6">Anyway, the next hitter was retired on a groundout and the Cubs had their sweep. I could say here that it “feels” like they could go on a long run of winning, but you never know in baseball. It does seem as if the team’s back playing the way we know they can with the talent they have.</p>
<p id="da9W9U">And, more good news: The <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> rode a six-run seventh to an 8-3 win over the <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a>, taking that series. So the Cubs’ lead in the N.L. Central is now 2½ games over Milwaukee, three over the <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> (who won Sunday), 5½ games over the Pirates and 6½ over the <a href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a>, who lost two of three to the <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> over the weekend.</p>
<p id="PUpHAr">Speaking of the Reds, they’ll be in town Monday evening to begin a three-game series at Wrigley Field. <span>Kyle Hendricks</span> will start for the Cubs and <span>Luis Castillo</span> will go for the Reds. Game time Monday is 7:05 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via NBC Sports Chicago.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/7/14/20694016/cubs-pirates-recap-jason-heyward-albert-almora-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2019-07-14T15:20:00-05:002019-07-14T15:20:00-05:00Overflow thread 2: Cubs vs. Pirates, Sunday 7/14, 1:20 CT
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<p id="O4bNVS">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/7/14/20687841/overflow-thread-2-cubs-vs-pirates-sunday-7-14-1-20-ctAl Yellon2019-07-14T14:20:00-05:002019-07-14T14:20:00-05:00Overflow thread 1: Cubs vs. Pirates, Sunday 7/14, 1:20 CT
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<p id="O4bNVS">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/7/14/20687840/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-pirates-sunday-7-14-1-20-ctAl Yellon2019-07-14T13:15:00-05:002019-07-14T13:15:00-05:00First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Pirates, Sunday 7/14, 1:20 CT
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<figcaption>Photo by David Banks/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="O4bNVS">Go get ‘em, Jose.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/7/14/20687837/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-pirates-sunday-7-14-1-20-ctAl Yellon2019-07-14T11:30:00-05:002019-07-14T11:30:00-05:00Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates preview, Sunday 7/14, 1:20 CT
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JhRzBkY_NmFt9QuYaXCNKoZUpZE=/0x0:3114x2076/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64725390/usa_today_13040535.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Cubs go for the sweep!</p> <p id="ECrI4X">Sunday notes:</p>
<ul>
<li id="pSbq6X">
<span>Jason Heyward</span>, last 15 games since June 22: .393/.433/.714 (22-for-56) with five doubles, a triple, four home runs and 12 RBI. This is the guy the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> thought they were getting before the 2016 season. Better late than never, right?</li>
<li id="4S3g0i">
<span>Willson Contreras</span> had a three-RBI game Saturday. That’s the sixth such game for him this season, most on the team. He’s reached base in six-straight games and has 20 first inning RBI, tied with <span>Alex Gordon</span> for the most in the majors. </li>
<li id="Qfvlyl">The Cubs scored seven first inning runs Saturday, their most runs in a first inning at home since <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200609170.shtml">September 17, 2006</a> vs. Cincinnati (seven) and their most runs in a first inning overall since <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT200909080.shtml">September 8, 2009</a> at Pittsburgh (seven). They also tied their season high for runs in an inning (eighth inning at Milwaukee, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIL/MIL201904060.shtml">April 6</a>) and scored their most runs in an inning at Wrigley Field since <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201807010.shtml">July 1, 2018</a> vs. Minnesota (second inning, eight runs).</li>
<li id="KYEGBn">The Cubs are 14-7 in their last 21 home games since May 25, and the club is 31-16 (.660) at Wrigley Field this season, the second-best home record in the National League. (<a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>, 37-12/.755)</li>
</ul>
<p id="Wnwcd1">Here are today’s particulars.</p>
<p id="HAZTFQ"><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
<div id="twitter-widget-0">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here is today's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> starting lineup. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EverybodyIn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EverybodyIn</a> <br><br>Game preview: <a href="https://t.co/uiYE7lMiHU">https://t.co/uiYE7lMiHU</a> <a href="https://t.co/caOEg2oq4H">pic.twitter.com/caOEg2oq4H</a></p>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1150419711924027394?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="6ZfO7W"><a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> lineup:</p>
<div id="twitter-widget-1">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Our Sunday lineup, presented by <a href="https://twitter.com/Honda?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Honda</a>.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetsGoBucs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetsGoBucs</a> <a href="https://t.co/mwwgsKZa85">pic.twitter.com/mwwgsKZa85</a></p>— Pirates (@Pirates) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pirates/status/1150433515131080704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<h2 id="V5jSYv">
<span>Jose Quintana</span>, LHP vs. <span>Trevor Williams</span>, RHP</h2>
<div class="c-float-left"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/945uT6jY4_Pk7P8ZwqYjf_zlWlc=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/16011070/usa_today_12381408.jpg">
<cite>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<div class="c-float-right"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/InopFmIJRz6hZc49wD2noI8IkV0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/16684826/usa_today_12382289.jpg">
<cite>Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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</div>
<p id="gVSCj8">Jose Quintana’s last two starts give me some hope, at last, that he might turn into the guy the Cubs need for the last couple of months of this season: 2.08 ERA, 1.000 WHIP, only one walk in 13 innings. One of those starts was <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT201907040.shtml">July 4 in Pittsburgh</a>: seven solid innings, three runs allowed, six strikeouts.</p>
<p id="oDkaZu">Another one just like that, please.</p>
<p id="SFIqOD">Trevor Williams is going on 12 days’ rest. Whether that’s too much or not remains to be seen. The Cubs scored five runs off him in 5x innings in <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT201907010.shtml">his last start July 1</a>, which would have been great except the Cubs gave up ... uh, a lot more than that, which we won’t mention further.</p>
<p id="FFx5fU"><span>Kyle Schwarber</span> is 6-for-17 (.353) against Williams with a couple of homers, the best performance by a current Cub against him.</p>
<p id="DIbTfl">Today’s game is on ABC7 Chicago.</p>
<p id="cxuSIp"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/2019/07/14">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=2019_07_14_pitmlb_chnmlb_1">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p id="iDRiK8"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2019/CHN201907140.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a></p>
<p id="AScVZw"><span>SB Nation game preview</span></p>
<p id="c01E3n">Please visit our SB Nation <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> site <a href="http://www.bucsdugout.com/">Bucs Dugout</a>. If you do go there to interact with Pirates 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 2019 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used in previous years. 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>
<p id="T0IPl9"></p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/7/14/20686631/chicago-cubs-pittsburgh-pirates-preview-sundayAl Yellon