Chicago Cubs in no hurry to pile up runs
When you settle in for Chicago Cubs baseball, you need to really settle in.
Cubs batters led the National League in walks entering Wednesday night's 9-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field. The Cubs have won seven of their first eight games.
They wasted no time - and took up a lot of time - doing what they do best against Reds starting pitcher Alfredo Simon.
The Reds went out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning against Cubs starter John Lackey, but the Cubs had yet to put their walking shoes on. When they did, in the bottom of the first, they walked Simon to the door.
Dexter Fowler led off with a double, and before the 5-run inning was over, Cubs batters walked three times, picked up 4 hits and got hit by a pitch. For the night, Cubs batters drew 10 walks.
Simon exited after a single by Lackey on his 49th pitch of the inning. Forty-eight minutes elapsed before the first inning was over.
Of course, this is the key to success for the Cubs - make pitchers work and get to the middle of opposing teams' bullpens early. Cubs manager Joe Maddon often talks about his team "accepting" walks.
"Very nice acceptance," said Maddon, whose team has walked 48 times this season. "We just worked great at-bats all night long. We were not chasing out of the zone up and down the lineup. That's what we're talking about."
Lackey made his second start of the season. Last Thursday in Arizona, he benefited from huge run support in a 14-6 victory and picked up the win despite giving up 6 runs in 6 innings. He didn't mind at all waiting around in the bottom of the first as he spent part of it on the basepaths.
"You're not going to hear me complain about hanging around and watching the guys score runs," said Lackey (2-0). "I'll sit there and get a coffee and wait as long as they want to hit."
After the Reds got their first-inning run, Lackey settled in, giving up a third-inning single to Joey Votto and a single to Brandon Phillips in the sixth. Double plays helped Lackey avoid serious trouble in both innings.
Jason Heyward, who struck out twice in the bottom of the first, singled home 2 in the third. Kris Bryant hit his first home run of the season, a line shot down the left-field line, to get a 2-run fourth going.
"It's always good to get the first one out of the way," Bryant said.
Lackey wound up pitching 6⅔ innings, giving up 6 hits and 2 runs. The Reds got their second run against him in the seventh. Scott Schebler led off with a single and scored on Ivan De Jesus' groundout. Lackey allowed a single to Tucker Barnhart before striking out pinch hitter Tyler Holt, ending his evening at 90 pitches.