After Monday’s tough extra-inning loss to the Tigers. it was certainly fun to see the Cubs get out of the gate quickly Tuesday, with a six-run first leading to an easy 11-2 win over Detroit, evening up the series.
David Peterson had a quick 1-2-3 first and then the Cubs got to work against Framber Valdez. Pete Crow-Armstrong led off with a line drive down the right field line that went for a triple [VIDEO]
.Seiya Suzuki walked and Alex Bregman was hit by a pitch to load the bases with nobody out.
Carson Kelly then singled in two runs [VIDEO].
Michael Busch followed with another single, scoring Bregman [VIDEO].
A single by Nico Hoerner re-loaded the bases, and Ian Happ blooped a single to right, scoring Kelly [VIDEO].
It’s 4-0, the first seven Cubs have reached base against Valdez, and the bases are still loaded. The next two Cubs made outs — Dansby Swanson popped up and Kevin Alcántara struck out. But the Cubs were not done scoring.
PCA made his second plate appearance of the inning. Valdez walked him to make it 5-0 [VIDEO].
That was it for Valdez. It was the worst start of his career, only the second time he had failed to finish the first inning, and the other time, back in 2019, he allowed “only” four runs.
Ty Madden, just called up by the Tigers, entered the game. The walkathon wasn’t over, either — he walked the first batter he faced, Suzuki, to force in another run [VIDEO].
More on the Cubs’ six-run first from BCB’s JohnW53:
The Cubs’ six-run inning was just their second of the season. The first was May 27, in their 56th game, when they won at Pittsburgh, 10-4. They have had three innings with seven runs and one with eight.
Through the first inning, the Cubs had scored multiple runs in 130 innings and a single run in 131.
…..
The Cubs have scored 12 runs in the first inning of their last six games: two, one, one, two, zero and six. They had scored 41 total runs in the first of their previous 96 games.
Peterson had an interesting second inning. He allowed a leadoff double, then got three fly outs on hard-hit balls. It was a good thing the wind was blowing in, because all four of those balls would have probably left the yard on Monday, when the wind was blowing out.
After that, though, Peterson settled down. Overall he allowed just three hits over the first six innings and got eight outs on ground balls. One of the outs that wasn’t a ground ball was this sliding catch by Alcántara in the third [VIDEO].
While that was going on, the Cubs were extending their lead. Swanson led off the third with a walk and stole second. That was Swanson’s 14th steal of the year without being caught. PCA singled him in [VIDEO].
The Cubs put two more on the board in the fifth. Swanson led off with a single. Michael Conforto was sent up to bat for Alcántara and launched one [VIDEO].
That was Conforto’s ninth homer of the year and fourth as a pinch-hitter. Here are some Cubs PH HR facts from John:
According to my research, Michael Conforto’s pinch-hit home run was the Cubs’ 363rd since the Modern Era began in 1901.
It was his fourth of the season. That tied the Cubs record for a single season, set by Glenallen Hill in 1999. Players with three: Jeff Blauser 1999, Thad Bosley 1985, Dave Clark 1997, Kevin Roberson 1993, Willie Smith 1969, Chuck Tanner 1958, Julio Zuleta 2001.
Only six players have hit more in their careers as a Cub:
9: Hill
6: Bosley, Roberson
5: Ernie Banks, Ian Happ, Patrick WisdomFive others hit four: Jeff Baker, Dale Long, Jerry Morales, Smith, Zuleta
The MLB record for pinch homers in a season is seven, set by Dave Hansen in 2000, tied by Craig Wilson in 2001.
Peterson was removed with two out in the seventh to a warm ovation. He’s now made four starts as a Cub. While one of them was unspeakably bad, the other three have been good-to-excellent. More on that from John:
David Peterson’s start was the Cubs’ first this season of at least 6.2 innings with no runs, three or fewer hits and no more than one walk.
Shōta Imanaga had the only two longer shutout starts, both 7.0, both at home, on May 2 vs. the Diamondbacks (four hits, one walk) and Sunday vs. the Twins (six hits, one walk).
Just-acquired Aaron Civale entered to finish the seventh. He allowed a single to the first batter he faced, putting runners on first and second. PCA ended the inning with this fine running catch [VIDEO].
Then it got to silly season, as the Tigers put in infielder Zach McKinstry, a former Cub, to pitch the bottom of the seventh. He threw some pitches at 80-plus miles per hour, but others with velocity in the 30s (listed as “slow curve” on the Wrigley video boards). The first hitter he faced was Happ, who walked. Swanson hit a ground ball to short that went for a hit. After a fly out, PCA walked, his third one of the game, loading the bases.
Suzuki hit into a force play to make it 10-0 [VIDEO].
As you can see, that was called a double play on the field, but Suzuki pretty clearly beat the relay, so the run scored and left runners on first and third.
Bregman singled, scoring Swanson to make it 11-0 [VIDEO].
Civale ran out of gas in the ninth and allowed a two-run homer to Dillon Dingler, and wound up loading the bases with two out before getting this fly to center to end the game [VIDEO].
The Cubs could have scored a lot more than 11 runs, too. They had hits in their first four at-bats with runners in scoring position and overall went 6-for-20 (!) with RISP and left 12 runners on base. It was a terrific display of offense.
The Cubs gained a game on the Brewers, who lost to the Mets, and trail in the NL Central by six games. They also gained on the Phillies in the wild card race. The Dodgers beat the Phillies, so the Cubs lead Philadelphia by 1.5 games for the top wild card spot.
And the Cubs will go for yet another series win Wednesday evening at Wrigley Field. Colin Rea will start for the Cubs and Keider Montero goes for the Tigers. Game time is 7:10 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be on ESPN (full national broadcast, no blackouts).
