We all know the Rocky Balboa movie-story of strength and persistence. He was down for the count, but somehow managed to ultimately fight his way to victory. The Chicago Cubs are taking on a similar role, as they battle the Rockies in the Wildcard elimination game. It’s Rocky vs. Rockies in my book, with both teams trying to rebound from devastating set-backs in the quests to claim Division Championship. There is not doubt that either squad would gladly give up that honor to get to the World Series. They both have an opportunity, with a win, to eventually face the team that won the regular season. It happened to the Brewers in 2011 when they lost to the Cardinals, who went on to win the World Series.
With that bit of optimism, let me get back to reality. The Cubs don’t have a closer, nor have they had much of an offense down the stretch. They are plagued with injury, lack of rest, and a tricky personnel issue. To make matters worse, they often fall behind early and have been forced to come-from-behind in nearly half of their victories this season. Their opponent has been hot down the stretch, winning 9 out of 10 before falling to the Dodgers in the tie-breaker. The Rockies also have Cubs closer, Wade Davis, their sole All-Star last year that they’ve failed to adequately replace. Hopefully, late innings will not be Chicago’s downfall like it was against the Brew Crew. As the game got underway at the Friendly Confines, there was little room for error by either team.
The game started in a predictable manner with runners on base, as Jon Lester was not getting the strike calls and the Rockies were hitting the ball hard. Things looked ominous after a lead-off walk to Charlie Blackman and quickly followed by a lucky break for the Cubs. The potential scoring liner by DJ LeMahieu was ruled a ground-rule double after it disappeared in the center field ivy. Lester was able to escape after giving up only one run, but the Cubs were faced with another come-from-behind effort, as has been the pattern all year long.
A leaping grab by Albert Almora on a near home run, coupled with a reversed-call on a pick-off play by the Rockies were the only Cub highlights early in the game. Both teams were successful in getting lead-off hits, while the Rockies just missed on solid shots down the first and third foul lines. Colorado seemed to be making better contact with their bats, but at least the Cubs were getting a few hits. Unfortunately, they weren’t putting them together.
After the third inning, I badly needed a glass of wine. The first third of the game was all Rockies. With a one-run lead and Wade Davis lurking in the bullpen, the Rockies continued to send Cub outfielders to the warning track. Lester’s pitches were getting absolutely crushed, including a double by Matt Holliday, but the Rockies continued to strike-out in critical situations. He was credited with eight after just five innings of work, but his teammates failed to produce even one run in support, dribbling grounders that barely cleared the pitching mound. Kyle Freeland, matched him stride-for-stride, giving up only 2 hits on five strikeouts.
A big turning point came in the bottom of the sixth when the decision was made to pull Jon Lester in favor of pinch-hitter Ian Happ. He had just allowed another double to Trevor Story but got out of trouble with his 9th strikeout against Holliday. It was a shame that his teammates had wasted his outstanding performance and that all Happ could make happen was a walk. Zobrist failed miserably in advancing the runner by striking out, and I took a walk with the dogs to cool off my temper. By the time I got back, Rizzo hit into a double play. No Hits, No Runs, No Lester.
Jesse Chavez replaced Lester in the 7th and immediately gave up a hit. It looked like Joe Maddon’s decision had backfired, but a deep fly to Kris Bryant in left by David Dahl resulted in a double-play as Ian Desmond tried to put himself in scoring position.
Albert Almora got his second hit of the night off Freeman, who was nearing the end of his evening but managed one last big out as Daniel Murphy lined to the shortstop. It was the Rockie’s turn to make a critical pitching change. Adam Ottavino got the call and proceeded to throw a wild pitch followed by a walk to Willson Contreras. For the first time, the Cubs were mounting a threat, as pinch-hitting ace Tommy LaStella stepped to the plate. He reached first on catcher’s interference. It was all up to Jason Heywood, but he struck out Might-ally. No runs. One Hit. No Clutch.
It was the top of the eighth, an Achilles Heel for the Cubs in recent games, without a legitimate closer. It was just yesterday in the 8th when the Brewers put the game away. Randy Rosario entered the game and predictably gave up a walk before facing Charlie Blackman. He surprisingly popped out to Bryant, allowing yesterday’s goat, Steve Cicek, to face LeMahieu. Hey! Hey! Double Play.
Then came the biggest stolen base in Cubs Playoff history, as Terrance Gore replaced Anthony Rizzo after a critical base-hit and promptly swiped second base. It set the stage for Javier Baez to hit a two-out RBI double and tie the score. It took former Cub Wade Davis to end the inning, shortly after he watched Baez steal third. Two Hits. One stolen base. No Rizzo.
Cubs reliever Pedro Strop then attempted his come-back from injury, hoping he could preserve the tie, and give the Cubs a chance to win it in the bottom of the ninth. A single by Trevor Story, put the Rockies in scoring position after Gerardo Parra bounced out to Murphy for out number two. Ian Desmond then struck out, giving Strop his second K of the inning after three weeks of rehabilitation.
Wade Davis got the Wrigley faithful excited when he walked Willson Contreras, bringing powerful Kyle Schwarber to the plate. However, just like the “Mighty Casey,” he sadly struck out, while Jason Heywood at least made contact but grounded out to Davis. It was now up to Cole Hamels in extra innings to contain the dangerous Rockies. Dahl grounds out. Carlos Gonzalez single. Butera pops out. Valaika strikes out. No Runs. One Hit. No Wade Davis.
The Rockies next called on Sueng-Hwan Oh to pitch the bottom of the 10th. One-Two-Three. Zobrist grounds out. Bryant out to a diving Arenado. Gore strikes out. Another chance for the Rockies in the 11th, as the Cubs fail again to capitalize on a walk-off victory, and certainly can’t afford to fall behind. LeMahieu out. Arenado clean base hit. Story popped out to second. Parra walks, moving Arenado into scoring position. Desmond had already stranded two, but beat out an infield single on a Bryant mental error. Bases Loaded. Two Outs. Dahl fails to deliver. It’s getting late in Chicago, approaching the witching hour.
And so it goes…Baez walks. Almora Sacrifices. Murphy walks. Contreras cramps up then grounds into the force out. 47 games in 49 days is beginning to take its toll on the exhausted Cubbies. Baserunning interference (a hug) nearly ends the Cubs rally, and Oh is replaced by Chris Rusin. Victor Caratini hits for Cole Hamels, but fails to end it. No Cubs hits again!
To start the 12th, Justin Wilson replaces Hamels and promptly gets Gonzales, then benched for a more reliable Kyle Hendricks to handle Drew Butera. Two Outs. Two Strikes. Can of Corn to center. Cubs turn. Two quick outs and another Rockies pitching change to face Kris Bryant, who is one for five, and Scott Oberg strikes him out for the third time on the night. No Rizzo. How will the Cubs ever score?
Fortunes may be running out? Hendricks is facing “Batman and Robin,” the dynamic duo of the Rockies. Two down. Story (Robin) sneaks one through the infield. Baez with more grass stains on his jersey while attempting to run it down. Parra at the plate and puts runners at first and third. Tony Wolters, who just entered the game in the 13th, gets the third straight single with two outs. Unlucky 13 for the Cubs? Hendricks out…Jorge De La Rosa in, the Rockies all-time winning pitcher is now a Cub, trying to keep the lead at only one run.
Once again, can the Cubs possibly score more than one run? It’s all they were able to cobble together yesterday in the loss to the Brewers. Things aren’t going well for Maddon as Gore, with one career hit, stands at the plate instead of Rizzo, who gave the Cubs their only run yesterday. He almost gets away with a hit-batsman but instead, he strikes out. Baez and Almora are the last two chances to win or extend the game and the season. Too Much Swing. Strike Two. Strike Three. Almora strikes out as well, and there’s stunned silence on the North Side of Chicago. The Rockies are the second team in two nights to celebrate on sacred Cubs turf. The Rockies are this year’s Rocky!
