As Fowler goes, so goes Chicago Cubs' offense

Dexter Fowler and Joe Maddon have their stories straight.

When Maddon was asked about the Chicago Cubs' leadoff hitter Sunday and how well he's doing, he said he tells Fowler one thing.

"You go, we go," manager Maddon said. "I tell him that before every at-bat. He's really got the strike zone back in order, accepting his walks, hitting the ball hard, both sides now."

All systems have been go, go, go for Fowler lately. In Sunday's 9-3 victory over the Braves, Fowler homered in the first inning, walked in the third and was hit by a pitch in the fifth.

The home run was Fowler's 14th, establishing a career high. He has 31 walks since the all-star break and has lifted his on-base percentage from .308 at the break to .353 today.

"Every time I go up to bat, he goes, 'You go, we go,' " Fowler said, echoing his manager. "I always stop, and he always tells me that. It's been that way my whole career. I'm kind of accustomed to it."

Fan hit by liner:

A fan sitting down the first-base line was hit by a hard foul ball off the bat of the Cubs' Kyle Schwarber in Sunday's first inning. The woman got assistance from emergency personnel and was taken out on a stretcher. She appeared conscious, but there was no immediate word on her condition.

"Awful," said Joe Maddon.

Asked what the solution was, Maddon said: "Pay attention. I hate to say it. Those are wonderful seats. You probably pay a lot of money for them. You're digging the fact that you're right there. I watch, and you see people turning their back to the field when the action's going. You just can't do it. You can't do it."

There have been calls for Major League Baseball to install screens or netting around the lower seats in parks to protect fans.

"I don't know how that plays, I don't know what that would mean," Maddon said. "That would be answer from somebody other than me. What I'm saying is, when you're out at the ballpark and you're in those particular locations, watch what's going on. Don't turn your head away from the action."

Russell leaves game:

Shortstop Addison Russell left Sunday's game in the sixth inning with what Joe Maddon said was tightness in his groin. The ailment could keep Russell out of Monday's makeup game against Cleveland at Wrigley Field. Starlin Castro, who started the season at short, replaced Russell.

Loving Wrigley:

Kris Bryant set a career high with 4 runs scored, and he recorded his third multihomer game of the season. Bryant's last 11 homers have come at Wrigley, dating to June 22. He is the first Cubs player with 11 consecutive homers coming at Wrigley in the same season since Sammy Sosa, with 12 in 1993.