The manager, who received criticism for his handling of the Cubs bullpen in Game 6, pulled Hendricks in the fifth after he walked Carlos Santana. Maddon did not see it that way and nearly became the modern face of Cubsian failure. Except Bryant/Rizzo like each other.Ĭubs starter Kyle Hendricks was pitching well, and the path to victory looked clear: Give Hendricks one more inning, and then let Jon Lester and Aroldis Chapman close things out. Jon Greenberg of The Athletic commented on the Cubs contingent in the Progressive Field crowd:īuster Olney could be MLB's version of Kobe and Shaq, who started playing together 20 years ago today.
#2016 world series game 7 winning pitcher series#
It was the first-ever leadoff home run in a World Series Game 7. Since MLB instituted the 2-3-2 format in 1925, only five teams had pulled off the comeback.įor the game's first half, the Cubs showed no signs of succumbing to the moment, holding a 5-1 lead going into the bottom of the fifth inning. Dexter Fowler did not waste any time at the top of the first, belting a leadoff home run over the center field fence on the game's fourth pitch from Indians starter Corey Kluber. No team in the past 30 years had won the Fall Classic after finding itself in that hole, and 1979 was the last time a team had won Games 6 and 7 on the road. Steele allowed one run in five innings in a 15-2 win Friday over the Phillies.The Cubs broke the longest championship drought in MLB history but nearly broke the spirit of their fans in the process by exorcising their demons in the most excruciating way possible.įirst, they dug themselves a 3-1 hole and left themselves seemingly insurmountable odds at a comeback. The Cubs will start LHP Justin Steele (4-6, 4.02) in the first game of a four-game series Thursday against the Giants. The Pirates will send RHP Zach Thompson (3-7, 4.64 ERA) when they open a four-game series Thursday against the Phillies. Pittsburgh has now signed 14 players from this year’s draft. The Pirates signed outfielder Tanner Tredaway, catcher Nick Cimillo, and right-handed pitchers Jaycob Deese and Elijah Birdsong from their draft class. I think you learn in the moment as much as I’ve noticed a growth in him in being able to read the game.”
“I know that was something he took pride in and probably learned a ton. “It was a big deal when he caught Jon,” Ross said. That was Ross’ final season as a player, and he recalled Contreras taking over his specific duties of catching veteran left-hander Jon Lester. “When he came up, he was a happy young man, lot of smiling, fitting in very easily, showing off the absolute cannon he had all the time,” Ross said of Contreras, who made his debut midway through the 2016 title season. Ross acknowledged that Contreras looked distracted during Monday’s game, in which he shed tears later after being asked to reflect on his seven seasons with the team. Thompson has allowed two earned runs or fewer in five of his last seven starts.Īfter Hoerner’s double, Wilson retired 14 of the next 17 hitters. Since the All-Star break, Cubs starters are 2-0 with a 2.03 ERA. Thompson completed the inning without further damage to top his previous high of 6 1/3 innings against the Reds on June 28.
Thompson retired 16 of 18 batters before Hoerner committed a fielding error at shortstop with one out in the seventh, and 6-foot-7 rookie Oneil Cruz followed later with a two-run homer to center field. The Cubs have (40-57) have their best winning streak since taking seven in a row last Aug.
“He wasn’t an option,” said Ross, who informed Robertson of his intentions before the game. Closer David Robertson wasn’t used for the second consecutive game after earning a win and save Saturday and Sunday at Philadelphia. Mychal Givens pitched the ninth to earn his second save. “That was as good as we’ve seen Keegan,” manager David Ross said. Thompson went a career-high seven innings. Suzuki provided insurance with a homer in the eighth off reliever Will Crowe. Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ and Nico Hoerner hit consecutive doubles in the first to give Keegan Thompson (8-4) ample run support. Representatives from the Blue Jays and White Sox were in attendance. If it doesn’t happen, I’ll be more than happy to stay here with my teammates and try to find a way to make everyone better and keep being a nice leader on and off the field,” he said. “I’d be more than happy to help a different team to get to the World Series.