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Another win touches off 'quite a celebration' for Cubs

The celebrations tend to be long and loud when the Cubs win — and there was more celebrating Monday night after a 4-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field.

“We really insist on quite a celebration,” said manager Joe Maddon, whose team is off to an 11-7 start. “I come from the land of big celebrations after wins, and I want us always to celebrate victory. I never want that to get old.”

Winning is something quite new around Wrigley.

Pitcher Jason Hammel was around for the losing in the first half of last season before being traded to Oakland.

He re-signed with the Cubs in the winter, and he tossed 8 innings of 4-hit ball to give the team its longest outing by a starter this season.

Hammel improved to 2-1, and he's walked only one and struck out 23 in 25⅓ innings. He's heard a little something about the Cubs winning this year.

“We've been doing that since January, right?” he said. “We know what we have in this clubhouse. We're excited.”

Hammel was referring to teammate Anthony Rizzo's wintertime prediction that the Cubs would win the National League Central.

Rizzo is putting up. He doubled in a run during the Cubs' 3-run third inning and singled home another in the fifth. His third-inning hit was followed by a 2-run single off the bat of Kris Bryant.

“We preached it in spring training,” Rizzo said. “We got to survive April. We can't put ourselves in a hole like we've done in years past. We're doing a good job of coming to the park every day and playing with a lot of energy and having fun and really playing with a purpose.”

Scary moment:

A fan seated in the lower box seats was hit, apparently in the head, when Cubs rookie Addison Russell lost his bat in the bottom of the seventh inning. The fan's condition was not immediately known, but the person was taken out of the park on a stretcher.

“It just slipped,” Russell said. “I was aggressive that at-bat, I saw a fastball, wanted to hit it and the bat slipped, and then I saw it just connect with his face. I felt so bad. Words can't describe how bad I feel. I found the bat in my locker, so if you see that guy out there I'm willing to give him a bat and sign it and everything. I just feel terribly bad about that.

“Some of the things you just have to block out. Whenever the bat was in midflight, I was screaming, ‘Watch out! Watch out!' And then, I saw the dude's glasses fly and it just wasn't pretty. I feel really bad.”

The Cubs issued a statement late Monday night: “During the 7th inning of tonight's ballgame at Wrigley Field, a fan was struck by a bat that inadvertently flew into the stands during play. Paramedics and a first aid physician were dispatched to the scene to assist. The patient was transported to first aid, then transferred to an ambulance and taken to a nearby hospital. The patient was conscious and communicating with staff while being transported from the stands. We will remain in communication with his family to keep updated on his progress.”

Lake is back:

The Cubs made a roster move Monday, recalling outfielder Junior Lake from Class AAA Iowa and optioning relief pitcher Brian Schlitter to Iowa. The move gets the Cubs back to a 12-man pitching staff after the bullpen had been taxed over the recent road trip.

Schlitter was 0-2 with a 9.53 ERA in 7 appearances. At Iowa, the 25-year-old Lake was 13-for-45 (289) with 2 doubles and 8 RBI.

He played in 108 games for the Cubs last year, putting up a line of .211/.246/.351 with 9 homers. In spring training this year, he was 15-for-47 (. 319).

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