Offense explodes as Cubs rout Nationals |
CHICAGO - You get an RBI, you get an RBI and you get an RBI. It was an Oprah night at Wrigley Field as the Chicago Cubs (44-50) gave the fans plenty to cheer about on Tuesday. However, things didn't start that way as Patrick Corbin had the Cubs handcuffed for the second time this season and searching for answers. That is why they say it isn't about how you start but how you finish, and boy did the Cubs finish.
Trailing the Washington Nationals (38-57) 3-1 in the sixth, the Cubs offense got to Corbin and tied things up. That was only the beginning for their offense as they scored 14 times the next two innings, including an eight-run eighth to bust things wide open and deliver a 17-3 knockout blow to the Nationals. On the mound for the Cubs was Jameson Taillon, and although this season has been a struggle, there are some promising signs as of late. Not to mention Taillon has had the worst defense behind him when he starts, and his overall numbers may be better than they are if his defense played better behind him. Taillon started slow, but pitched into the sixth before coming out at 92 pitches. He walked one, struck out four, and allowed three runs on seven hits. Corbin had a similar line to that of Taillon as he pitched into the sixth but didn't finish it. Corbin was slightly better early on until a pair of runs made his outing look worse than it was, as he walked one and struck out six in his 5 1/3. Corbin was also charged with three earned on six hits before the bullpen imploded late. One of Taillon's most prominent issues this season has been his inability to settle in right away, which once again him in this one. Lane Thomas homered two batters into the game to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead which has been an all too common theme for Taillon this season. Things only got worse for Taillon in the second as a leadoff walk to Keibert Ruiz was followed by a Dominic Smith double to set the Nationals offense up again. One batter later, Corey Dickerson came through as his RBI single extended the Nats lead to 3-0. Little did they know, those would be the only runs the Nationals would score the rest of the way as Taillon not only settled in, but the offense went on a relentless scoring binge late. After a near-perfect start to his outing, Corbin ran into fourth-inning trouble as Ian Happ led things off with a walk before advancing to third on the Cody Bellinger single. That proved crucial for the Cubs, with Yan Gomes coming through with a sacrifice fly to make things 3-1. Both Taillon and Corbin managed to keep things that way into the sixth, although Taillon did have to work around a pair of singles before Michael Fulmer finished things off. Looking to break through in the sixth, Seiya Suzuki started things off as he blasted one onto Waveland Avenue to make things 3-2. That was followed by a pair of singles from Happ and Bellinger as a costly error on the Bellinger hit brought home another run and tied things up 3-3. With both starters out of the game to begin the seventh, this was now in the hands of both bullpens and something the Cubs surely had the advantage in. Fulmer did his part by retiring all four hitters he faced, but things went south quickly with Amos Willingham on the mound for the Nationals. It all started with Patrick Wisdom's third homer in four days as the mustache power gave the Cubs a 4-3 lead to begin the seventh. Patrick Wisdom - Chicago Cubs (17) “I think it just give us confidence,” Wisdom said. “I wouldn’t say we’re lacking confidence but showing that we’re in the right direction and doing the right things as a group. This group’s a lot of fun to be a part of. I think just reaffirming a lot of those things just to have a game like that down early and then have that explosion late, super fun.” That homer was followed by singles from Miles Mastrobuoni, Nico Hoerner, and Suzuki, with Suzuki making things 5-3. Seiya Suzuki - Chicago Cubs (8) pic.twitter.com/PS7jQoBVIU Happ kept the line moving with an RBI double to make things 6-3, with Mike Tauchman pushing the lead to 7-3 with an RBI fielder's choice. Miguel Amaya would later cap off the six-run seventh inning with another single as the Cubs stormed in front 9-3. With Jed Hoyer officially announcing that Adbert Alzolay will not be traded, the new Cubs closer could rest easy as he was on to pitch the eighth. Although a shaky eighth with a walk and two singles, Alzolay got the outs he needed and escaped without allowing a run. Holding a 9-3 lead entering the bottom of the eighth, you had to like the Cubs chances, but their offense wasn't ready to slow down yet. “I’ve never seen anything like that before,” Taillon said. “That was crazy. That was impressive and I think that’s also the definition of offense can be contagious. It seemed like everyone that was going up there was just had that body language like they were just gonna get it done.” A leadoff walk by Wisdom was followed by three straight singles, including a pair of RBI singles from Hoerner and Suzuki, to extend the lead to 11-3. Three batters later saw Gomes singled home another run to make things 12-3, with Tauchman following and extending the lead to 14-3. The Cubs added three more runs in that inning, with Amaya, Hoerner, and Mastrobuoni all picking up RBIs as they pushed across eight additional runs to end the game with 17 unanswered runs and a 17-3 win. “It’s just nice to see after guys going through a little bit of hard work and trying to fix some things mechanically and approach-wise, just to throw a bunch of knocks out there,” David Ross said after the game. “These guys [have been] putting in a lot of work and grinding a little bit lately so it’s nice for that to break open and be able to add on for sure. “That’s the thing, that’s the hope — to build on the outing and the confidence and carry that into tomorrow,” Ross said. “Really nice. Everybody feels good going home tonight.” Seventeen runs is a lot, but when you get those runs on 20 hits, the percentage is incredible. Eight of the nine starters had multi-hit games, with Suzuki leading the way with four. He came away with three RBIs to lead the team, as this was the game the Cubs have been hoping for. Tauchman and Amaya also added three RBIs, with Gomes the lone starter not to pick up multiple hits. The Cubs will look to take the series tomorrow as they send the Professor Kyle Hendricks to the mound to take on former Cub Trevor Williams.
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