Kris Bryant hit his first home run of the season and helped fuel a five-run first inning on Wednesday with a bases-loaded walk in the Cubs’ 9-2 victory over the Reds. Chicago is off to its best start since going 7-1 in 1985. The Cubs also are 7-0 this season when scoring at least four runs in a game.
“This lineup is deep,” Cubs starter John Lackey said. “Looking from the other side as a pitcher, it’s tough to get through without suffering a little damage.”
Cincinnati starter Alfredo Simon found that out. He had a 1-0 lead in the first when Billy Hamilton doubled off the first pitch from Lackey and eventually scored on Jay Bruce’s sacrifice fly. But the Cubs made Simon work, sending 11 batters to the plate in the first. Simon was pulled after throwing 49 pitches over two-thirds of an inning, the shortest outing of his career.
“He was yanking pitches, a lot of off-speed and splits, and [pitching coach] Mark Riggins went out there to get him to really try to pound the ball down in the zone,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “He’s got a really good sinker, and at that point, when your pitch count is that high, you’re really looking to get balls in play and give the defense a chance to make a play for you on a ball on the ground. He just kind of kept missing high with the split and off the plate with the cutter and the fastball. He just didn’t have it tonight.”
The results were much better for Lackey, whose last start at Wrigley Field was Oct. 13 in Game 4 of the National League Division Series for the Cardinals, when he served up four runs over three innings and took the loss. On Wednesday he was charged with two runs over 6 2/3 innings, and received a standing ovation from the crowd as he came off the field.
Click here to read more of this story.
About Marion Online Sports
