Counsell nails another pinch-hit decision, Cubs win fourth straight
The Cubs have won four games in a row, and a big reason for that is manager Craig Counsell's two-decision win streak.
Designated hitter Moises Ballesteros is as hot a hitter as there is in the sport. After going 1-for-2 Saturday, he now has 13 hits in his last 21 at-bats.
On Friday when the New York Mets put in a left-handed pitcher, Counsell sent right-handed hitter Matt Shaw to pinch-hit for Ballesteros and Shaw doubled in a run.
Counsell did it again Saturday. This time, he sent Carson Kelly to pinch-hit for Ballesteros and Kelly smashed the first pitch he saw into the left-field bleachers for a 3-run homer in the sixth inning. The home run broke a 1-1 tie and the Cubs held on to win 4-2 at Wrigley Field. The Mets, considered a World Series contender by many, have lost 10 in a row.
“Heck of a job managing there,” Cubs outfielder Ian Happ joked. “Pinch-hit 3-run homer, that's a good day for the manager.”
Counsell had a good laugh about his winning decisions, since there was a long discussion during pregame availability if it's better to let a young, developing hitter like Ballesteros to get more experience facing left-handed pitching.
Counsell's philosophy was simple: Most every hitter in baseball history has been better when facing someone who throws from the opposite side. And as a DH, it's easier to sub out Ballesteros than someone like first baseman Michael Busch, a lefty hitter who has been struggling this season.
“Shaw was leading off that inning (Friday), so I thought it made sense (to go with) Matt,” Counsell said. “Then today, Carson's just been swinging the bat so good. I thought it's a big at-bat in the game, he's been really locked in.”
Kelly was so locked in, he only looked at one pitch from Mets reliever Brooks Raley. With two outs, starter Freddy Peralta walked Happ and Seiya Suzuki to set up Kelly's at-bat.
“We're looking at scouting reports,” Kelly said. “We're looking for a specific spot and a specific zone. When you're there, you pull the trigger. I saw exactly what I wanted to see and let it go.”
In another interesting twist, Peralta was obviously a longtime Milwaukee Brewer. Heading into this game, Happ was just 2-for-32 all-time in the regular season against Peralta. But Happ got the Cubs on the scoreboard with a solo home run to center field on Saturday.
And the last time the Cubs saw Peralta, Happ delivered a 3-run homer in the first inning of Game 4 in last year's playoff series. Happ's October home run essentially sent that series to a decisive Game 5 in Milwaukee, which the Cubs lost.
“I've had 38, 40 some at-bats against Freddy,” Happ said. “Faced him so many times over the years. He's had my number for the majority of that.”
Jameson Taillon had an encouraging start, allowing just 1 run over 6 innings to get the win. Ben Brown survived two difficult innings of relief, then Caleb Thielbar pitched a perfect ninth to earn a save, the Cubs' first since closer Daniel Palencia went on the injured list Friday.
“I'm not throwing as many strikes as I'd like; some uncompetitive curveballs today and stuff like that,” Taillon said. “But I feel like today was like a really good step in the right direction. I thought the stuff was crispy. The four-seam had a lot of carry.”
∙ The Cubs called up right-hander Corbin Martin from Iowa to fill Palencia's spot on the roster and moved Cade Horton to the 60-day injured list to create a spot on the 40-man. Martin has four years of big-league experience, pitched for the Orioles last year, then signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs in the spring.
He pitched just twice for Iowa, missing some time due to back spasms. He returned from the injury Tuesday and hit 95.4 mph with his fastball.