Cubs Game Recap: Matt Garza Rules
Tony Campana
You cannot stop Tony Campana. It can’t be done. He’s terrible at getting on base, and I suspect that once this hot start wears off, he’ll continue to be so. But right now, he is a raging speed demon and there’s literally nothing you can do about it. He scored two of the Cubs’ runs in today’s 5-1 victory over Philadelphia.
Today was the second Stats Sunday broadcast, and Len and Bob were discussing BABIP. Which made it fascinating that the only hit the Cubs gave up over the first EIGHT WHOLE INNINGS was a lucky bloop single by the very first Phillies hitter, Jimmy Rollins.
Thereafter, Matt Garza was perfect, setting down 19 – not a typo – batters in a row, before walking Juan Pierre in the seventh. Rollins was even erased on a gorgeous throw to second by Welington Castillo, so Garza actually faced the minimum during that stretch, while striking out 10. After the walk, he finished out the inning cleanly and was lifted for Rafael Dolis, who was also perfect.
Notably not perfect was Carlos Marmol, who pitched the ninth and gave up one hit and 3 – also, unfortunately, not a typo – walks, one of which forced in a run. But after taking another couple of years off my life, he managed to finish out the game without any further damage. I’m pretty sure this roller coaster is just going to be our lives for the next couple of years, folks.
The bats, for their part, did exactly what they were supposed to do today. It felt really good to see everything fall into place.
