Assad has decent start, but Cubs' hit parade comes up empty against Reds
Wrigleyville was still buzzing Wednesday about Hayden Wesneski's successful big-league debut. But the Cubs have another rookie pitcher off to a great start.
Javier Assad made his third major league start and began the night with a 0.90 ERA. He ended with a 2.93 ERA - not bad, but he couldn't avoid a 7-1 loss to Cincinnati at Wrigley Field.
The story of the game wasn't anything Assad did wrong, but the Cubs' inability to score. They pounded out 12 hits with just 1 run.
The first 10 hits of the night were singles before Christopher Morel collected the lone extra-base hit with a double leading off the seventh. The Cubs hit into 3 double plays.
After tossing a combined 9 scoreless innings in his first two starts, Assad wasn't quite as sharp this time, allowing solo home runs to Aristides Aquino and Jake Fraley.
He worked into the sixth inning with just the 2 runs allowed, but after getting the first out, was pulled when the Reds followed with a pair of singles.
"I think he's got a really good way of pitching in with that two-seamer that is really unnatural for a young guy," manager David Ross said. "I thought the two-seam was kind of his bread and butter."
Reliever Erich Uelmen walked the first batter he faced to load the bases, then 2 runs scored on a slow grounder to third base that Morel threw into the visitors dugout. Eventually 2 more runs scored in the inning.
Assad was credited with 4 earned runs in 5⅓ innings, but felt good about his introduction to major-league hitters. He gave up the first run of his career during a relief appearance in St. Louis.
"I think I felt pretty confident," Assad said through a translator. "Whenever I'm locating that pitch (two-seam), it opens up the strike zone. I'm able to locate it outside and inside. Particularly when I'm able to throw it inside, it helps the rest of my game.
"I feel really good at this level. Just seeing all the experienced players that are here, that have their own routine, I've been able to look at them, see what they do. At any point during the game or during my throwing program or when I'm in the training room, I just get pieces of advice here and there."
Aquino added a second home run against Jeremiah Estrada in the ninth.
Before the game, Wesneski looked back on his memorable night at Wrigley. His younger brother Cole seemed to be having the time of his life in the stands, and group of 15 to 20 friends managed to reach Chicago on short notice.
"One guy flew in from California," Wesneski said. "Most of them are from Texas and a majority are from Houston. They caught flights. One person led it all and she figured out hotels.
"I hung out with all my friends and family (Tuesday night). We had a good time. I got to see the city of Chicago and stuff like that."
His parents stayed back in Houston because his mother is sick. After tossing 5 scoreless innings in relief, Wesneski looked forward to a personal postgame tradition.
"I always call my dad after the last inning I throw," he said. "If it's bad, I tell him I want to quit. If it's good, I want to play forever. He's always there. That's the next thing I'm going to do."
The Wesneski brothers were teammates for one season at Sam Houston State. Cole's college career ended in the spring with Tommy John surgery, but Hayden said his brother is hoping to catch on with an independent-league team. There are plenty of those in the Chicago area.
Injury update: The Cubs said catcher Willson Contreras had an MRI exam on his sore left ankle Wednesday but didn't yet know the results
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