CUBS WIN FIRST WORLD SERIES SINCE 1908
• The Chicago Cubs claimed their third World Series title in franchise history, joining 1907, when they defeated the Detroit Tigers (4-0-1), and 1908, when they defeated the Tigers (4-1).
• The 107-season drought without a World Series title had been the longest drought without a championship in the four major sports.
BEN ZOBRIST NAMED WORLD SERIES MVP
• Cubs outfielder Ben Zobrist was named the winner of the World Series Most Valuable Player presented by Chevrolet.
• Zobrist, who was part of Kansas City's 2015 World Series-winning team, becomes the first Cubs player to win the MVP Award, which originated in 1955.
• He is just the seventh outfielder (eighth time overall) to be named MVP, joining Hall of Famer Frank Robinson of the Orioles (1966); Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente of the Pirates (1971); Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson of the Athletics (1973) and for the Yankees (1977); Pedro Guerrero of the Dodgers (1981); Boston's Manny Ramirez (2004); and Jermaine Dye of the White Sox (2005).
• Zobrist went 1-for-5 in Game 7 tonight and put the Cubs on top with his his RBI-double in the top of the 10th inning.
• The Illinois native went 10-for-28 (.357) with two doubles, a triple, two RBI and five runs scored in the series.
• For his career, he is now batting .293 (17-for-58) in the World Series. He has hit safely in nine of his last 10 World Series games, and in 10 of his last 12 dating back to Game 1 of last year's Fall Classic.
WINNING GAME 6 AND 7
• The Cubs became the 20th team to come back from down 3-2 in the Fall Classic under the current seven-game format.
• Prior to tonight, the last team to turn the trick was the 2011 Cardinals, who trailed the Rangers 3-2 before taking both games back in St. Louis. The others include the 2002 Angels (over SF); 2001 Diamondbacks (over NYY); 1991 Twins (over ATL); 1987 Twins (over STL); 1986 Mets (over BOS); 1985 Royals (over STL); 1982 Cardinals (over MIL); 1979 Pirates (over BAL); 1973 Athletics (over NYM); 1968 Tigers (over STL); 1958 Yankees (over MIL); 1952 Yankees (over BRO); 1946 Cardinals (over BOS); 1940 Reds (over DET); 1934 Cardinals (over DET); 1926 Cardinals (over NYY); 1925 Pirates (over WSH); and 1924 Senators (over NYG).
• The last team to win Games 6 and 7 of the World Series on the road after trailing 3-2 was the 1979 Pirates, who won Games 6 and 7 at Baltimore. In addition, the 1968 Tigers, the 1958 Yankees, the 1952 Yankees, the 1934 Cardinals and the 1926 Cardinals all won Games 6 and 7 on the road to win the World Series.
COMING BACK FROM DOWN 3-1
• The Cubs became the seventh team in World Series history to come back from down 3-1 to win the series. The previous six teams to come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the World Series include the 1985 Royals, 1979 Pirates, 1968 Tigers, 1958 Yankees, 1925 Pirates and the 1903 Pilgrims (best-of-9).
• This is the first time that the Cubs came back to win a best-of-seven series in which they trailed 3-1. In the previous five instances, Chicago lost each series, including the 1910 World Series vs. Philadelphia (lost series in five); the 1918 World Series vs. Boston (lost series in six); the 1929 World Series vs. Philadelphia (lost series in five); the 1935 World Series vs. Detroit (lost series in six); and the 1989 NLCS vs. San Francisco (lost series in five).
IN GAME SEVEN
• The road team has now been victorious in 20 of the 38 (52.6%) best-of-seven Game 7s.
• The Cubs are just the second road team in the last 11 Game 7s to come out on top, joining the 2014 Giants, who defeated the Royals in Game 7 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. Prior to the Giants, the last road team to win a Game 7 of the World Series was the 1979 Pirates at Baltimore.
GAME 7 RESULTS
• The Cubs are now 1-2 in Game 7s overall, includ- ing 1-1 in the Fall Classic. Prior to tonight's win, the losses came in Game 7 of the 1945 World Series against Detroit, and Game 7 of the 2003 NLCS against Florida, both of which were played at Wrigley Field.
• The Indians are now 0-3 in Game 7s overall, inlcuding 0-2 in the World Series. In addition to tonight's loss, the previous losses came in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series against Florida, and Game 7 of the 2007 ALCS against Boston, both of which took place on the road. (Note - Cleveland defeated Brooklyn in Game 7 of the 1920 best-of-nine Fall Classic to clinch the title).
THIS SCENARIO
• This is the third time in World Series history that a series has followed the following scenario: home team wins Game 1; road team wins Game 2; road team wins Game 3; road team wins Game 4; home team wins Game 5; road team wins Game 6; and road team wins Game 7.
• The other occurrences were in 1968, when the Tigers defeated the Cardinals in Game 7 on the road, and in 1979, when the Pirates defeated the Orioles in Game 7 on the road.
EXTRA EXTRA
• Tonight was the 60th extra-inning game in World Series his- tory, and just the fifth in a decisive game in the World Series. The others include Game 7 of the 1997 World Series (Florida overa Cleveland); Game 7 of the 1991 World Series (Minnesota over Atlanta); Game 7 of the 1924 World Series (Washington over New York); and Game 8 of the 1912 World Series (Boston over New York).
• The Cubs became the first road team to win an extra-inning game in the decisive game of the Fall Classic.
TEAM EFFORT
The Cubs had eight different players record an RBI in tonight's game, the most of any team in Game 7 of a World Series. The previous mark of seven was set by the Cardinals in Game 7 of the 1934 World Series against Detroit.
ROSS HOMER
• David Ross homered in the top of the sixth inning to extend Chicago's lead to 6-3, becoming the oldest player in history to homer in Game 7 of the World Series at 39 years, 228 days old. Hall of Famer Willie Stargell was 39 years, 225 days old when he homered in Game 7 of the 1979 Fall Classic.
• Ross became the oldest player to homer in a World Series game since Hall of Famer Eddie Murray homered in Game 2 of the 1995 World Series for Cleveland at 39 years, 240 days old.
LESTER OUT OF THE PEN
• Tonight marked Jon Lester's fourth career relief appearance. Each of his previous three came with Boston during the 2007 season, with the last two coming during the Posteason. Lester tossed 2.0 perfect innings on September 30, 2007 vs. Minnesota; pitched 0.2 innings in Game 2 of the 2007 ALCS; and tossed 3.0 scoreless innings in Game 4 of the 2007 ALCS.
• Lester tossed 3.0 innings out of the bullpen tonight, matching his career-high in relief, done in Game 4 of the 2007 ALCS.
HATS OFF
• Kyle Schwarber capped an impressive series under unusual circumstances with three hits in tonight's game.
• Schwarber went 3-for-5 tonight and finished this World Series 7-for-17 (.412) with a double and two RBI.
• For his career in the Postseason, Kyle is now batting .364 (16-for-44) with a double, five home runs, 10 RBI and eight runs scored.
TOP OF THE ORDER PRODUCTION
Cubs leadoff hitter Dexter Fowler and number two hitter Kyle Schwarber each had three hits in tonight's game. It marked just the fourth time that a pair of teammates each had at least three hits in a decisive Game 7 of the World Series. The others to do so inlcuded Larry Doyle and Chief Meyers (three hits each) for the 1912 Giants, Omar Moreno (three hits) and Willie Stargell (four hits) for the 1979 Pirates, and George Brett (four hits) and Darryl Motley (three hits) for the 1985 Royals.
OFFENSIVE OUTBURST
• The Cubs hit three home runs tonight, marking the fourth time that a team has hit at least three homers in Game 7 of the Fall Classic. The others to do so were the 1956 Yankees (four homers); the 1960 Pirates (three homers); and the 1964 Yankees (three homers).
• The four home runs hit overall tonight marked the fifth Game 7 in World Series history with at least four homers. The others came in 1956 (Yankees hit four, Dodgers hit zero); in 1960 (Pirates hit three, Yankees hit two); in 1964 (Yankees hit three, Cardinals hit two); and in 1986 (Mets hit two, Red Sox hit two).
• Tonight's 8-7 final was the highest scoring decisive World Series game since 1960, when the Pirates beat the Yankees, 10-9.
JOE MADDON
Joe Maddon, the 53rd manager in Cubs history since their last World Series title, joins Frank Chance as the only managers in Cubs history to lead the Cubs to a World Series title.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT...
When the Indians scored two runs on Jon Lester's wild pitch, it was the second time in Indians Postseason history that two runs scored on a wild pitch or passed ball. In Game 6 of the 1995 ALCS, Ruben Amaro and Kenny Lofton both scored on a passed ball in the eighth inning at Seattle.
UNUSUAL NIGHT FOR MILLER
Andrew Miller allowed four hits in his 2.1 innings pitched tonight. It was just the fifth time in his career that he allowed at least four hits in a relief appearance, and the first time since August 4, 2011 with Boston against the Indians, when he allowed four hits over 2.2 innings of relief.
BRANDON GUYER
Brandon Guyer became the first player ever to enter as a substitute and have two hits in a deciding game of the World Series. Frank “Home Run” Baker in 1921 and Charley Hall in 1912 each did so in Game 7s of a best-of-nine series.
LATE AND GREAT
• Rajai Davis hit a game-tying two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning off Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman. It marked the latest game-tying or go-ahead homer in the eighth inning-or-later of a deciding World Series game since Alfonso Soriano in the eighth inning of Game 7 of the 2001 World Series.
• The homer tied for the latest deficit-erasing home run ever in Game 7 of the World Series. In 1960, Hal Smith's three-run homer gave the Pirates a 9-7 lead over the Yankees.
INDIANS STAFF
• The Indians surrendered a total of 17 runs over the last two games of this series (nine runs in Game 6 and eight runs in Game 7). The staff allowed just 23 total runs over the first 13 games of the Postseason before Game 6 of the Fall Classic.
• The club's 80 strikeouts in relief this Postseason ranked second all-time by any team in a single Postseason, trailing only the 2015 Kansas City Royals (89).
• Cleveland pitchers recorded 145 strikeouts overall this Postseason, which was the fourth-most in a single Postseason, trailing the 2015 Royals (160); the 2010 Rangers (150); and the 2013 Cardinals (149).
• Cleveland pitchers had a combined 64 strikeouts in this World Series, which was second-most in a single Fall Classic, behind the 2001 Yankees (70).
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Artem Anisimov lifts Blackhawks past Devils in OT
By TOM CANAVAN
AP Sports Writer
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- Down by a goal and late in a four-minute power play in the closing minutes of the third period, Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville took a chance and pulled his goaltender with more than two minutes to play.
It didn't take long for Marian Hossa to make the gamble pay off, setting the stage for Artem Anisimov to be a hero in overtime.
Hossa tied the score with 2:11 remaining in regulation and Anisimov scored on a rebound at 1:15 of overtime as the Blackhawks rallied to beat New Jersey 3-2 on Friday night, handing the Devils their first home loss.
"Time was running out and 6-on-4 is a pretty dangerous look," Quenneville said. "Fortunately, we had a quick little play at the net. We had an ordinary 5-on-4 and it was running out, and I still figured with 2 1/2 (minutes) or two and change, you'd like that 6-on-4."
Hossa was the player who came off the bench with about 35-to-40 seconds left in the four-minute high-sticking penalty to Vernon Fiddler, and it only took about 10 seconds for him to score.
Jonathan Toews sent the puck from the right circle through the crease and Richard Panik and Hossa swept their sticks at it simultaneously with Devils goaltender Keith Kinkaid on the other side of the net.
"It was a free lane at the far post and I put everything I had just to make sure I put it in the net," Hossa said. "I know Richard put his stick there also, and we just shoveled everything into the net. It doesn't matter who got the goal as long as it was the tying goal."
Artemi Panarin, who also scored for Chicago, took a shot from the right circle on Anisimov's fifth goal of the season. Kinkaid, who made 26 saves, stopped the shot but he no chance on the rebound.
"The puck came to me in the right position, and I just put it in," Anisimov said.
Crawford had kept the Blackhawks in the game in the first two periods, stopping 25 of 26 shots, including all 16 in the second period.
Chicago outshot New Jersey 17-4 in the third period and overtime.
PA Parenteau and John Moore scored for New Jersey, which was 3-0 at home. Kinkaid made 26 saves in his first start of the season.
"If you break this game down, we controlled the play, we played hard, dictated the play of the game," Devils coach John Hynes said. "We played hard enough to earn a point, and didn't play smart enough to earn two points."
Moore had given the Devils the lead early in the third period with a slam dunk in front.
Taylor Hall did all the work on Moore's first goal of the season. He carried the puck into the Blackhawks zone, skated into the right circle and sent a backhand pass toward the net. The puck hit off the skate of Devils forward Kyle Palmieri and went right to a wide-open Moore.
Panarin, who hit a goalpost in the first period, tied the score 1-1 in the second period with a power-play goal just 13 seconds after Devils defenseman Damon Severson was called for hooking.
Patrick Kane found last year's rookie of the year in the left circle and he beat Kinkaid with a shot to the top corner with Anisimov screening the goaltender.
Parenteau had given New Jersey the lead with a power-play goal with 4:28 left in the first period. Crawford stopped defenseman Yohann Auvitu's point shot, but the puck popped in the air, hit off Devils forward Devante Smith-Pelly and Parenteau swatted in the rebound for his third goal.
Crawford was the difference in second period, stopping all 16 shots by New Jersey. His best were a snapping glove on a Hall power-play chance with New Jersey ahead 1-0 and point-blank rebound stop of Beau Bennett with the game tied 1-all.
NOTES: Blackhawks assistant coach Kevin Dineen turned 53. ... Nick Lappin, a Geneva, Illinois, native who grew up a Blackhawks' fan, make his NHL debut for the Devils. ... The Devils were 2-0 against Chicago last season. ... Anisimov leads the Blackhawk with 10 points.
UP NEXT
Blackhawks: Host Los Angeles on Sunday night to start a three-game homestand.
Devils: Host Tampa Bay on Saturday night to finish a four-game homestand.
AP Sports Writer
 |
| Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) collides with New Jersey Devils goalie Keith Kinkaid (1) as New Jersey Devils defenseman John Moore (2) helps defend during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) |
It didn't take long for Marian Hossa to make the gamble pay off, setting the stage for Artem Anisimov to be a hero in overtime.
Hossa tied the score with 2:11 remaining in regulation and Anisimov scored on a rebound at 1:15 of overtime as the Blackhawks rallied to beat New Jersey 3-2 on Friday night, handing the Devils their first home loss.
"Time was running out and 6-on-4 is a pretty dangerous look," Quenneville said. "Fortunately, we had a quick little play at the net. We had an ordinary 5-on-4 and it was running out, and I still figured with 2 1/2 (minutes) or two and change, you'd like that 6-on-4."
Hossa was the player who came off the bench with about 35-to-40 seconds left in the four-minute high-sticking penalty to Vernon Fiddler, and it only took about 10 seconds for him to score.
Jonathan Toews sent the puck from the right circle through the crease and Richard Panik and Hossa swept their sticks at it simultaneously with Devils goaltender Keith Kinkaid on the other side of the net.
"It was a free lane at the far post and I put everything I had just to make sure I put it in the net," Hossa said. "I know Richard put his stick there also, and we just shoveled everything into the net. It doesn't matter who got the goal as long as it was the tying goal."
Artemi Panarin, who also scored for Chicago, took a shot from the right circle on Anisimov's fifth goal of the season. Kinkaid, who made 26 saves, stopped the shot but he no chance on the rebound.
"The puck came to me in the right position, and I just put it in," Anisimov said.
Crawford had kept the Blackhawks in the game in the first two periods, stopping 25 of 26 shots, including all 16 in the second period.
Chicago outshot New Jersey 17-4 in the third period and overtime.
PA Parenteau and John Moore scored for New Jersey, which was 3-0 at home. Kinkaid made 26 saves in his first start of the season.
"If you break this game down, we controlled the play, we played hard, dictated the play of the game," Devils coach John Hynes said. "We played hard enough to earn a point, and didn't play smart enough to earn two points."
Moore had given the Devils the lead early in the third period with a slam dunk in front.
Taylor Hall did all the work on Moore's first goal of the season. He carried the puck into the Blackhawks zone, skated into the right circle and sent a backhand pass toward the net. The puck hit off the skate of Devils forward Kyle Palmieri and went right to a wide-open Moore.
Panarin, who hit a goalpost in the first period, tied the score 1-1 in the second period with a power-play goal just 13 seconds after Devils defenseman Damon Severson was called for hooking.
Patrick Kane found last year's rookie of the year in the left circle and he beat Kinkaid with a shot to the top corner with Anisimov screening the goaltender.
Parenteau had given New Jersey the lead with a power-play goal with 4:28 left in the first period. Crawford stopped defenseman Yohann Auvitu's point shot, but the puck popped in the air, hit off Devils forward Devante Smith-Pelly and Parenteau swatted in the rebound for his third goal.
Crawford was the difference in second period, stopping all 16 shots by New Jersey. His best were a snapping glove on a Hall power-play chance with New Jersey ahead 1-0 and point-blank rebound stop of Beau Bennett with the game tied 1-all.
NOTES: Blackhawks assistant coach Kevin Dineen turned 53. ... Nick Lappin, a Geneva, Illinois, native who grew up a Blackhawks' fan, make his NHL debut for the Devils. ... The Devils were 2-0 against Chicago last season. ... Anisimov leads the Blackhawk with 10 points.
UP NEXT
Blackhawks: Host Los Angeles on Sunday night to start a three-game homestand.
Devils: Host Tampa Bay on Saturday night to finish a four-game homestand.
Cubs down 2-1 in World Series after 1-0 loss at Wrigley
CHICAGO – They lost Game 1 but then won Game 2, but the Chicago Cubs are in a 2-1 World Series deficit after a 1-0 loss to the Cleveland Indians in Game 3 on Friday night.
The Cubs dropped to 6-16 all-time in Game 3 of a Postseason series, including 4-11 in a best-of-seven. Chicago is now 3-8 overall in Game 3 of the World Series.
"There are no more series after this, so you've got to do everything you can to try to win right now and win today," said Cubs pitcher Josh Tomlin. "Regular season's probably a little bit different, but, you know, it's not regular season. It's a World Series game. When stuff starts happening, you go to guys that are probably a little more fresh, and that have maybe a little bit better stuff that can put a guy away in situations like when Andrew [Miller] (Indians pitcher) came in."
This is the eighth time that the Cubs trail a best-of-seven Postseason series, 2-1. They have lost the series in six of the previous seven instances, with the only exception coming in this year's NLCS against Los Angeles (won Game 4, won series in 6). The first six instances include the 1906 World Series vs. Chicago White Sox (won Game 4, lost series in 6); the 1918 World Series vs. Boston (lost Game 4, lost series in 6); the 1929 World Series vs. Philadelphia (lost Game 4, lost series in 5); the 1935 World Series vs. Detroit (lost Game 4, lost series in 6); the 1945 World Series vs. Detroit (lost Game 4, lost series in 7); the 1989 NLCS vs. San Francisco (lost Game 4, lost series in 5); and the 2016 NLCS vs. Los Angeles (won Game 4, won series in 6).
Tonight's Game 3 was just the 25th 1-0 game in World Series history, as well as just the second in the past 20 seasons (The deciding Game 4 of the 2005 World Series was a 1-0 White Sox win).
The Cubs have now lost six of their last seven Game 3 contests overall, dating back to Game 3 of the 2007 NLDS. The lone win in that span came in Game 3 of the 2015 NLDS against St. Louis.
The Cubs dropped to 6-16 all-time in Game 3 of a Postseason series, including 4-11 in a best-of-seven. Chicago is now 3-8 overall in Game 3 of the World Series.
"There are no more series after this, so you've got to do everything you can to try to win right now and win today," said Cubs pitcher Josh Tomlin. "Regular season's probably a little bit different, but, you know, it's not regular season. It's a World Series game. When stuff starts happening, you go to guys that are probably a little more fresh, and that have maybe a little bit better stuff that can put a guy away in situations like when Andrew [Miller] (Indians pitcher) came in."
This is the eighth time that the Cubs trail a best-of-seven Postseason series, 2-1. They have lost the series in six of the previous seven instances, with the only exception coming in this year's NLCS against Los Angeles (won Game 4, won series in 6). The first six instances include the 1906 World Series vs. Chicago White Sox (won Game 4, lost series in 6); the 1918 World Series vs. Boston (lost Game 4, lost series in 6); the 1929 World Series vs. Philadelphia (lost Game 4, lost series in 5); the 1935 World Series vs. Detroit (lost Game 4, lost series in 6); the 1945 World Series vs. Detroit (lost Game 4, lost series in 7); the 1989 NLCS vs. San Francisco (lost Game 4, lost series in 5); and the 2016 NLCS vs. Los Angeles (won Game 4, won series in 6).
Tonight's Game 3 was just the 25th 1-0 game in World Series history, as well as just the second in the past 20 seasons (The deciding Game 4 of the 2005 World Series was a 1-0 White Sox win).
The Cubs have now lost six of their last seven Game 3 contests overall, dating back to Game 3 of the 2007 NLDS. The lone win in that span came in Game 3 of the 2015 NLDS against St. Louis.
Monday, October 17, 2016
Cubs, Dodgers look for edge in Game 3
The Chicago Cubs didn't necessarily have their best game on Sunday night in Game 2 of the NLDS as Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers shut them down to tie the series up at 1-1.
The Cubs, hiwever, are eager to get on the field for Game 3 on Tuesday night.
"It'll be fun,'' said Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who has gone 1-for-23 in six postseason games. "It'll be a great atmosphere. Those fans will bring it. It's so great. It will be a fun series.''
Jake Arrieta will get the start on the mound for the Cubs in the game.
"We know he's tough,'' Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley said. "He's got electric stuff. For every good pitcher, you try to capitalize on their mistakes. They all make mistakes, some more than others, and you have to try to be ready for those mistakes and try to take advantage of those."
Cubs batters will face Rich Hill in the third game of the series. Hill was 12-5 with a 2.12 ERA in 20 starts split between the A's and Dodgers this season. He struck out 10.5 per nine innings. The Dodgers gave up Jharel Cotton and two other pitching prospects to land him in a trade from Oakland on Aug. 1, but blisters limited him to six starts down the stretch.
Friday, September 23, 2016
Arrieta starts as Cubs begin series against Cardinals
CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs will start a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field on Friday in a chase to get 103 wins in 2016.
The Cubs and Cardinals play 19 games, spanning six series, this season. This is the final regular season meeting between the two clubs. Chicago aims to win a regular season series against St. Louis for the first time since the 2010 campaign (9-6).
Jake Arrieta will make his 30th start of the season for the Cubs today, marking the second time in his career he has made 30 starts (also last season). He has posted a 2.82 ERA (29 ER/92.2 IP) in 15 home starts compared to a 3.11 ERA (32 ER/92.2 IP) in 14 road starts. Despite the higher road ERA, he is second in the majors with 11 wins road this season (11-2). He ranks among N.L. leaders in wins (17, t-3rd), ERA (2.96, 9th), opponent’s average (.185, 1st), OBP (.271, 6th), slugging (.295, 1st) and OPS (.566, 1st).
Arrieta is 5-1 with a 1.09 ERA (6 ER/49.2 IP) in eight-career regular season starts against St. Louis at Wrigley Field ... has posted a 1.69 ERA (2 ER/10.2 IP) in two starts this season at the Friendly Confines.
The Cardinals will start RHP Mike Leake, who is 9-10 with a 4.54 ERA in 2016.
FLYING THE “W” FLAG OFTEN
The Chicago Cubs, 2016 N.L. Central Division champions, tonight begin their final regular season home series of the season with the first of three games against the St. Louis Cardinals ... Chicago on Wednesday completed a three-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds with a 9-2 victory to improve to a season-high 42-games over .500 (97-55) for the first time since the end of the 1945 campaign when the club finished 98-46.
• Chicago’s 97 victories match their output from 2015, and are tied for the most single-season victories since winning 98 games in 1945.
• This marks just the 11th time in franchise history the Cubs have reached 97 wins in a season ... the Cubs have recorded at least 97 wins in consecutive campaigns for the first time since a five-season run over 100 years ago from 1906-10.
• The Cubs have 10 games remaining and are on pace for 103 wins this season.
WAY TO GO, JOE!
Joe Maddon has compiled a 194-120 regular season record in his first two campaigns at the helm of the Cubs ... only two managers have reached that many victories with fewer than 120 losses with Chicago: Cap Anson in 1879-82 (194-84) and Frank Chance in 1905-07 (194-73) ... thanks to Ed Hartig.
ON THE SEASON
At 97-55, the Cubs own the best record in MLB, 7.5 games better than the next closest club (Texas, 90-63) ... Washington is next-closest in the N.L. with an 89-63 mark ... the magic number for the Cubs to clinch home field through the N.L. playoffs is two.
• The Cubs have gone 45-20 (.692) in their last 65 games starting July 10, also the best record in all of baseball in that span ... the Cubs have more than doubled their lead in the N.L. Central during this time from 6.5 games to 17.0 games.
• Today is the eighth of a 10-game homestand vs. the Brewers (1-3), the Reds (3-0) and the Cardinals (3 games).
ONE-TWO PUNCH
Kyle Hendricks leads the majors with a 2.06 ERA while Jon Lester is second with a 2.36 ERA ... the Giants Madison Bumgarner is third at 2.57 ... the last time pitchers from the same team finished with the top two ERAs in the majors was in 2005, when the Astros Roger Clemens (1.87) and Andy Pettitte (2.39) turned the trick.
• Hendricks has allowed three or fewer earned runs in each of his last 21 starts dating to May 22 (1.65 ERA), the longest streak by any big league pitcher this season ... he is the fourth Cubs starting pitcher in the last 30 years to allow three earned runs or fewer in 21-straight starts, joining Jake Arrieta (29, 2015-16), Mike Morgan (27, 1992) and Frank Castillo (23, 1994-95).
• Lester’s 18 wins are tied for the N.L. lead and are the most by a Cubs lefty in a single season in 53 years since Dick Ellsworth had 22 victories in 1963.
• Lester has allowed two or fewer runs and two or fewer walks in each of his last 10 starts ... according to Elias, just two other Cubs pitchers since 1893 – the year the pitching mound was set to 60’6” – had such a streak ... Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown had an 11-game streak in 1906 and Jake Arrieta had a 10-game streak spanning 2015-16.
40 x 30
Anthony Rizzo on Monday recorded his 40th double of the season to go along with his 30 homers ... he’s the first left-handed hitter in Cubs history to record 40 doubles and 30 homers in a season, and just the fourth overall ... he joins Rogers Hornsby in 1929, Derrek Lee in 2005 and Alfonso Soriano in 2007.
• Rizzo is just the second left-handed hitter to record multiple 30-homer, 100-RBI seasons in franchise history ... Rizzo, who last season had 31 homers and 101 RBI, joins Billy Williams, who turned the trick three times (1965, 1970 & 1972).
• Rizzo enters today’s contest tied for fifth in the N.L. with 31 home runs(one shy of his career-high 32 in 2014) while his career-high 104 RBI are tied for second in the Senior Circuit with Atlanta’s Matt Kemp and Washington’s Daniel Murphy.
WHAT’S IN AN AGE?
With 21 homers and 93 RBI on the season, Addison Russell is just the second Cub to reach the 20-homer mark in his age 22 season or younger – joining Ron Santo (23 homers in age 21 campaign in 1961).
• Russell is the first shortstop to reach 93 RBI in his age 22 or younger season since Troy Tulowitzki did so at age 22 in 2007 with Colorado (99 RBI).
• Russell’s 93 RBI are tied with Houston’s Carlos Correa for the most by any shortstop this season.
• Russell is the first Cubs shortstop to reach 93 RBI since Ernie Banks logged 117 RBI in 1960 (156 games at shortstop that season).
N.L. CENTRAL CHAMPIONS
Chicago, which appeared in the 2015 postseason as the N.L. Wild Card, will advance to consecutive postseasons for just the fifth time in franchise history ... the club first turned the trick way back in both 1880-82 and 1885-86, and did so again from both 1906-08 and 2007-08.
• The Cubs clinched the division in 146 games, the fewest number of games Chicago has clinched its division in the divisional era (since 1969), as well as the earliest the Cubs have clinched a playoff spot all-time (thanks STATS, Inc.).
• The previous team to clinch a division with 16 or more games remaining in a season was the 2008 Angels ... they clinched the A.L. West with 17 games remaining.
COMFORTS OF HOME
This marks just the fourth season since moving to Wrigley Field in 1916 that Chicago has won at least 55 games at home ... the Cubs won 56 games at Wrigley Field in both 1933 and 1935 and 55 home games in 2008.
• At 55-23 (.705), the Cubs have the best home record in the majors, (Texas and Cleveland are second, both at.667) ... Chicago is 29-9 in its last 38 home games, 22-6 in its last 28 and is 14-4 in its last 18.
CROSSING THE PLATE AT A RAPID RATE
Kris Bryant’s 117 runs scored are tied for the major league lead with Boston’s Mookie Betts ... that’s six ahead of the next-closest N.L. player, Colorado’s Nolan Arenado (111) ... Bryant’s 116 runs scored are the most for any Cub since Derrek Lee scored 120 runs in the 2005 campaign.
• Bryant leads the N.L. and is second in the majors with an 8.1 WAR (Mike Trout leads with an 8.7 mark).
• Bryant’s 38 homers this season are second-most in the N.L. and are tied for the most by a Cub since Aramis Ramirez hit 38 in 2006 ... the last Cub with at least 39 homers in a season is Derrek Lee, who belted 46 in 2005.
LEADING THINGS OFF
Dexter Fowler on September 13 hit his seventh lead-off homer of the season, the most by a Cub in a single campaign since Alfonso Soriano hit a franchise record 12 lead-off blasts in 2007.
• Fowler is hitting .383 (36-for-94) with 13 walks and three HBP in 110 plate appearances (.473OBP) leading off a game this season.
CLOSE IT OUT
Since joining the Cubs on July 26, Aroldis Chapman’s 15 saves are tied for fourth-most in the majors, two behind the Dodgers Kenley Jansen (16) ... the Cubs now have two pitchers with at least 15 saves apiece (Hector Rondon, 18) for the first time since 2009 when Kevin Gregg had 23 saves and Carlos Marmol recorded 15.
The Cubs and Cardinals play 19 games, spanning six series, this season. This is the final regular season meeting between the two clubs. Chicago aims to win a regular season series against St. Louis for the first time since the 2010 campaign (9-6).
Jake Arrieta will make his 30th start of the season for the Cubs today, marking the second time in his career he has made 30 starts (also last season). He has posted a 2.82 ERA (29 ER/92.2 IP) in 15 home starts compared to a 3.11 ERA (32 ER/92.2 IP) in 14 road starts. Despite the higher road ERA, he is second in the majors with 11 wins road this season (11-2). He ranks among N.L. leaders in wins (17, t-3rd), ERA (2.96, 9th), opponent’s average (.185, 1st), OBP (.271, 6th), slugging (.295, 1st) and OPS (.566, 1st).
Arrieta is 5-1 with a 1.09 ERA (6 ER/49.2 IP) in eight-career regular season starts against St. Louis at Wrigley Field ... has posted a 1.69 ERA (2 ER/10.2 IP) in two starts this season at the Friendly Confines.
The Cardinals will start RHP Mike Leake, who is 9-10 with a 4.54 ERA in 2016.
FLYING THE “W” FLAG OFTEN
The Chicago Cubs, 2016 N.L. Central Division champions, tonight begin their final regular season home series of the season with the first of three games against the St. Louis Cardinals ... Chicago on Wednesday completed a three-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds with a 9-2 victory to improve to a season-high 42-games over .500 (97-55) for the first time since the end of the 1945 campaign when the club finished 98-46.
• Chicago’s 97 victories match their output from 2015, and are tied for the most single-season victories since winning 98 games in 1945.
• This marks just the 11th time in franchise history the Cubs have reached 97 wins in a season ... the Cubs have recorded at least 97 wins in consecutive campaigns for the first time since a five-season run over 100 years ago from 1906-10.
• The Cubs have 10 games remaining and are on pace for 103 wins this season.
WAY TO GO, JOE!
Joe Maddon has compiled a 194-120 regular season record in his first two campaigns at the helm of the Cubs ... only two managers have reached that many victories with fewer than 120 losses with Chicago: Cap Anson in 1879-82 (194-84) and Frank Chance in 1905-07 (194-73) ... thanks to Ed Hartig.
ON THE SEASON
At 97-55, the Cubs own the best record in MLB, 7.5 games better than the next closest club (Texas, 90-63) ... Washington is next-closest in the N.L. with an 89-63 mark ... the magic number for the Cubs to clinch home field through the N.L. playoffs is two.
• The Cubs have gone 45-20 (.692) in their last 65 games starting July 10, also the best record in all of baseball in that span ... the Cubs have more than doubled their lead in the N.L. Central during this time from 6.5 games to 17.0 games.
• Today is the eighth of a 10-game homestand vs. the Brewers (1-3), the Reds (3-0) and the Cardinals (3 games).
ONE-TWO PUNCH
Kyle Hendricks leads the majors with a 2.06 ERA while Jon Lester is second with a 2.36 ERA ... the Giants Madison Bumgarner is third at 2.57 ... the last time pitchers from the same team finished with the top two ERAs in the majors was in 2005, when the Astros Roger Clemens (1.87) and Andy Pettitte (2.39) turned the trick.
• Hendricks has allowed three or fewer earned runs in each of his last 21 starts dating to May 22 (1.65 ERA), the longest streak by any big league pitcher this season ... he is the fourth Cubs starting pitcher in the last 30 years to allow three earned runs or fewer in 21-straight starts, joining Jake Arrieta (29, 2015-16), Mike Morgan (27, 1992) and Frank Castillo (23, 1994-95).
• Lester’s 18 wins are tied for the N.L. lead and are the most by a Cubs lefty in a single season in 53 years since Dick Ellsworth had 22 victories in 1963.
• Lester has allowed two or fewer runs and two or fewer walks in each of his last 10 starts ... according to Elias, just two other Cubs pitchers since 1893 – the year the pitching mound was set to 60’6” – had such a streak ... Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown had an 11-game streak in 1906 and Jake Arrieta had a 10-game streak spanning 2015-16.
40 x 30
Anthony Rizzo on Monday recorded his 40th double of the season to go along with his 30 homers ... he’s the first left-handed hitter in Cubs history to record 40 doubles and 30 homers in a season, and just the fourth overall ... he joins Rogers Hornsby in 1929, Derrek Lee in 2005 and Alfonso Soriano in 2007.
• Rizzo is just the second left-handed hitter to record multiple 30-homer, 100-RBI seasons in franchise history ... Rizzo, who last season had 31 homers and 101 RBI, joins Billy Williams, who turned the trick three times (1965, 1970 & 1972).
• Rizzo enters today’s contest tied for fifth in the N.L. with 31 home runs(one shy of his career-high 32 in 2014) while his career-high 104 RBI are tied for second in the Senior Circuit with Atlanta’s Matt Kemp and Washington’s Daniel Murphy.
WHAT’S IN AN AGE?
With 21 homers and 93 RBI on the season, Addison Russell is just the second Cub to reach the 20-homer mark in his age 22 season or younger – joining Ron Santo (23 homers in age 21 campaign in 1961).
• Russell is the first shortstop to reach 93 RBI in his age 22 or younger season since Troy Tulowitzki did so at age 22 in 2007 with Colorado (99 RBI).
• Russell’s 93 RBI are tied with Houston’s Carlos Correa for the most by any shortstop this season.
• Russell is the first Cubs shortstop to reach 93 RBI since Ernie Banks logged 117 RBI in 1960 (156 games at shortstop that season).
N.L. CENTRAL CHAMPIONS
Chicago, which appeared in the 2015 postseason as the N.L. Wild Card, will advance to consecutive postseasons for just the fifth time in franchise history ... the club first turned the trick way back in both 1880-82 and 1885-86, and did so again from both 1906-08 and 2007-08.
• The Cubs clinched the division in 146 games, the fewest number of games Chicago has clinched its division in the divisional era (since 1969), as well as the earliest the Cubs have clinched a playoff spot all-time (thanks STATS, Inc.).
• The previous team to clinch a division with 16 or more games remaining in a season was the 2008 Angels ... they clinched the A.L. West with 17 games remaining.
COMFORTS OF HOME
This marks just the fourth season since moving to Wrigley Field in 1916 that Chicago has won at least 55 games at home ... the Cubs won 56 games at Wrigley Field in both 1933 and 1935 and 55 home games in 2008.
• At 55-23 (.705), the Cubs have the best home record in the majors, (Texas and Cleveland are second, both at.667) ... Chicago is 29-9 in its last 38 home games, 22-6 in its last 28 and is 14-4 in its last 18.
CROSSING THE PLATE AT A RAPID RATE
Kris Bryant’s 117 runs scored are tied for the major league lead with Boston’s Mookie Betts ... that’s six ahead of the next-closest N.L. player, Colorado’s Nolan Arenado (111) ... Bryant’s 116 runs scored are the most for any Cub since Derrek Lee scored 120 runs in the 2005 campaign.
• Bryant leads the N.L. and is second in the majors with an 8.1 WAR (Mike Trout leads with an 8.7 mark).
• Bryant’s 38 homers this season are second-most in the N.L. and are tied for the most by a Cub since Aramis Ramirez hit 38 in 2006 ... the last Cub with at least 39 homers in a season is Derrek Lee, who belted 46 in 2005.
LEADING THINGS OFF
Dexter Fowler on September 13 hit his seventh lead-off homer of the season, the most by a Cub in a single campaign since Alfonso Soriano hit a franchise record 12 lead-off blasts in 2007.
• Fowler is hitting .383 (36-for-94) with 13 walks and three HBP in 110 plate appearances (.473OBP) leading off a game this season.
CLOSE IT OUT
Since joining the Cubs on July 26, Aroldis Chapman’s 15 saves are tied for fourth-most in the majors, two behind the Dodgers Kenley Jansen (16) ... the Cubs now have two pitchers with at least 15 saves apiece (Hector Rondon, 18) for the first time since 2009 when Kevin Gregg had 23 saves and Carlos Marmol recorded 15.
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Phillies beat White Sox 8-3
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tommy Joseph homered, doubled and drove in three runs and Jerad Eickhoff outpitched Chris Sale in Philadelphia's victory over Chicago.
Joseph has 21 home runs, third most among rookies in the majors. The Phillies teed off on Sale (16-9), tagging the ace for six runs and seven hits in four innings.
Eickhoff (11-13) pitched seven innings and gave up six hits, including solo home runs by Adam Eaton, Todd Frazier and Alex Avila homered, and struck out six.
Phillies outfielder Tyler Goeddel left in the sixth after being hit in the head by a pitch from Chris Beck. Goeddel was the fourth Philadelphia player to be hit in the game, tying a franchise record.
Joseph has 21 home runs, third most among rookies in the majors. The Phillies teed off on Sale (16-9), tagging the ace for six runs and seven hits in four innings.
Eickhoff (11-13) pitched seven innings and gave up six hits, including solo home runs by Adam Eaton, Todd Frazier and Alex Avila homered, and struck out six.
Phillies outfielder Tyler Goeddel left in the sixth after being hit in the head by a pitch from Chris Beck. Goeddel was the fourth Philadelphia player to be hit in the game, tying a franchise record.
Cubs beat Reds 9-2
CHICAGO (AP) — John Lackey pitched seven solid innings for his first win in six weeks, Miguel Montero drove in three runs, and Chicago swept Cincinnati.
Kris Bryant hit his 38th homer and Dexter Fowler also connected to help major league-leading Chicago move a season-high 42 games over .500. The Cubs (97-55) also matched their win total from a year ago and lowered their magic number for clinching home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs to two over Washington.
Lackey (10-8) allowed two runs and five hits in his first win since he beat the Angels on Aug. 9. The right-hander, who retired his last 14 batters, went 0-1 with a 2.55 ERA in his previous four starts.
The last-place Reds lost for the seventh time in eight games. They managed just five runs and 19 hits in the three-game series against the NL Central champions.
Robert Stephenson (2-2) was pulled with two out in the fourth inning.
Kris Bryant hit his 38th homer and Dexter Fowler also connected to help major league-leading Chicago move a season-high 42 games over .500. The Cubs (97-55) also matched their win total from a year ago and lowered their magic number for clinching home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs to two over Washington.
Lackey (10-8) allowed two runs and five hits in his first win since he beat the Angels on Aug. 9. The right-hander, who retired his last 14 batters, went 0-1 with a 2.55 ERA in his previous four starts.
The last-place Reds lost for the seventh time in eight games. They managed just five runs and 19 hits in the three-game series against the NL Central champions.
Robert Stephenson (2-2) was pulled with two out in the fourth inning.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)