Chicago Cubs come out of the gate strong
The Chicago Cubs came out dealing.
On Friday night, baseball returned to the North Side as the Chicago Cubs took on division rival Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. Cubs fans had to have been pleasantly surprised with what they saw.
After months of wondering whether we would have baseball this year, fans quickly settled into the familiar feeling of watching their favorite team. But after such a long layoff, fans had little idea what to expect. Though some fans were ready to sound the alarm after a couple of exhibition game losses to the Chicago White Sox.
However, the Cubs, at least for opening night, came out firing on all cylinders.
Ian Happ smacked a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning to get the Cubs out to an early lead.
It turns out, that’s all the team would need. However, Anthony Rizzo, the team’s resident hand sanitizer dispenser, added an eighth-inning home run just for good measure.
Starter Kyle Hendricks pitched an absolute gem. He tossed a complete-game shutout, scattering three hits over nine innings while striking out nine without walking a batter. Hendricks needed only 103 pitches (74 of them were strikes) to dispense of the Brewers.
It was a dazzling performance from the Cubs’ rock of the rotation and it is the kind of start that could set the tone for the entire season. The Cubs will certainly try to parlay this positive momentum into the second game of their series with the Brew Crew.
But for tonight, Cubs fans can sit back, relax, and enjoy a dominating performance from their team. It should also go a long way to assuage some of the concerns fans had heading into the season.
Granted, it’s just one game. However, with only a grand total of 60 of them, it is critical for the Cubs to get off to a strong start and it does not get any stronger than dominating your division rival in every facet of the game.
Next. Cubs have improved chances of making playoffs. dark
Now they turn their attention to tomorrow night when Yu Darvish takes the hill for an afternoon tilt. Taking the first two against the Brewers would be a huge confidence booster, and the Cubs are halfway there.