Cubs offense breaks through with 13 runs against Atlanta
The way this season has been going, it felt like there was a better chance of 13 inches of snow falling onto Wrigley Field than the Cubs scoring 13 runs Saturday.
But this result falls into the "baseball is a funny game" department. After 13 games of a historically horrendous start at the plate, the Cubs busted out with 6 home runs and rolled past the Atlanta Braves 13-4.
"It feel like it was just bound to happen," said Kris Bryant, who belted a pair of homers. "I like to look at baseball as a law of averages game. We just weren't getting it done. And now we did today and it feels good."
Without a doubt, catcher Willson Contreras was the catalyst. Twice already this week, Contreras got hit by a pitch early, then came back with a revenge home run.
On Saturday, he didn't wait to get plunked, instead lofting an opposite-field home run in the first inning to put the Cubs ahead 1-0. It was the first time in his career Contreras hit home runs in three consecutive games, but he took that up another notch with another homer leading off the third inning.
"I think it is cliché, but I do think to an extent hitting is contagious," Bryant said. "I was talking with (Anthony) Rizzo about that and we think the same way.
"Even going back to Milwaukee, he (Contreras) seems to be very passionate right now and that's saying something because Willson's always passionate. It's just really fun to see him go out there and care so much and have some success too."
In the second inning, the Cubs scored a second run on doubles by Jason Heyward and David Bote. That was a milestone too, since it was just the second time all season the Cubs had multiple extra-base hits in the same inning, and the first time it happened since they had 3 homers in one inning on April 5.
The runs started gushing in the third when Javy Baez followed Contreras' leadoff shot with a 3-run homer. Bryant connected in the fifth and sixth innings, driving in Rizzo both times, and Bote hit one out with two runners aboard in the fifth.
"That was a fun one," manager David Ross said. "That's what we feel this lineup's capable of on any given night. It was nice for them to see all the hard work that they continue to put in and the things they continue to do to give themselves a good chance to succeed. I think it was well-deserved, well-needed."
So even after the collective extended hitting slumps, a few Cubs can be considered off to good starts. With 5 home runs each, Contreras and Bryant are on pace to hit 58. With 3 hits, Rizzo finally lifted his average above .200. Bote was really struggling, but finished with 2 hits and 4 RBI.
What made this slow start even more strange is most of the Cubs were red hot in spring training.
"I kind of lost my timing a little bit once the season started," Baez said. "But I've been feeling good, I've been seeing the ball better. When he hit as a team, we do great. We've been staying positive in the clubhouse. We're staying together."
Going back to last season, the Cubs have struggled to hit velocity. Braves starter Huascar Ynoa, 22, was throwing a steady supply of 98-mile-per-hour fastballs and the Cubs caught up to them for 3 home runs and 2 doubles.
Trevor Williams (2-1) got off to a shaky start, with the first two Atlanta batters getting on base in each of the first two innings. But he helped himself a lot by picking Ronald Acuna Jr. off first base in the top of the first, a safe call that was overturned by replay. Williams settled down and allowed 1 run through 5 innings.
There was a nice moment when the Brave sent Sean Kazmar Jr. to the plate to pinch-hit in the fifth inning. Kazmar, 36, had 39 at-bats with San Diego in 2008 and has been toiling in the minors ever since. He spent the seven straight seasons with the Braves Triple A Gwinnett team from 2013-19.
Alas, Kazmar's first major league at-bat in 13 years resulted in a double play.
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