Cubs want credit for forcing Giants errors in 9-2 victory
The best offense in baseball returned after a one-day hiatus.
To be fair, the Cubs got plenty of help from San Francisco's sloppy defense during a 9-2 victory at Wrigley Field on Monday.
While Ian Happ and Carson Kelly hit home runs, five of the Cubs' runs were unearned, thanks to the Giants' 4 errors — two each by shortstop Willy Adames and third baseman Matt Chapman.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell felt the Cubs (22-14) deserved some credit for forcing those errors and he's got a point. Three of them happened with Pete Crow-Armstrong either at the plate or running the bases.
Crow-Armstrong, one of MLB's fastest players, reached base when Chapman couldn't pick up a slow grounder, keeping the fourth inning alive with two outs. Dansby Swanson later delivered a 2-run single to break a 2-2 tie.
In the sixth, Adames threw wild trying to force Crow-Armstrong at second, then Chapman muffed another ground ball with Crow-Armstrong on third base, bluffing a break for the plate.
“Yeah, I think Pete's base running had something to do with it, for sure,” Counsell said. “Absolutely. That's what speed does. It speeds the defender up.”
On the other side, the Cubs’ defense was flawless. Just before San Francisco's Luis Matos tied the game with a 2-run homer in the top of the fourth, Nicky Lopez made a diving stop at third base, got a force at second base and nearly turned a double play. If the ball goes into left field, Matos hits a 3-run homer and the inning continues. Lopez also collected his first hit as a member of the Cubs.
“Keeping runs off the board is the same as hitting a home run,” Counsell said.
Heading into Monday's action, the Cubs led all of MLB in runs, hits, batting average and stolen bases, but were blanked on Sunday by Milwaukee pitcher Freddy Peralta and three relievers.
“There's going to be nights you don't hit, but by and large, we've continued to make good decisions and force guys in the strike zone,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said before the game. “I think it's been a really good team offense in that regard.”
Starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (3-2) kept the Giants off the board, other than the home run. His battery-mate Kelly hit his eighth home run of the season in the sixth inning, a solo shot that made it 5-2. According to the Cubs, that's the most home runs through 20 games played by a Cubs catcher since Gabby Hartnett hit 9 in 1925.
Counsell said after the game the report on Shota Imanaga's left hamstring strain was encouraging. The left-hander was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday.
“He's presenting to the doctor with a very mild hamstring strain,” Counsell said. “So that makes us optimistic. I think it's probable we're going to be past two weeks here because we're going to be cautious and make sure he's back to 100%. But all in all, pretty good news.”