Four Chicago Cubs delivered multi-hit games on Friday while the team collected six hits with runners in scoring position.
That’s the kind of production the Cubs are used to, and they’ll try to do it again Saturday as they aim to earn a series victory against the host Chicago White Sox.
The Cubs entered the game having scored just five runs in their five previous games, but Carson Kelly had three hits and four RBIs to spark Friday’s 10-5 rout in the opener of the Crosstown Classic series.
Alex Bregman, Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki added two hits each and were part of a clutch attack. The Cubs were 1-for-34 with runners in scoring position in their five games before Friday.
“I know it’s been a little bit light the last four or five days,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “But we played a really good offensive game all-around. We made it hard every at-bat, it felt like. We made it hard on them. A bunch of hits, walks, the baserunning was very good.”
“It felt like everybody had shots to drive in runs tonight,” Counsell continued. “I just thought we had really good at-bats.”
The loss snapped the five-game winning streak for the White Sox, who were tied with the Cubs at 4-4 until the seventh. But the Cubs scored two in that inning and four in the eighth to break the game open.
Colson Montgomery, Miguel Vargas and Jarred Kelenic drilled solo home runs. Drew Romo, Montgomery and Vargas each had two hits.
The White Sox will turn to ace right-hander Davis Martin as they attempt to even the series.
“I’ve never pitched against the Cubs in my career,” Martin said. “It’s going to be fun. And the energy from the stands, I know it’s going to carry over.”
Martin (5-1, 1.62 ERA), who ranks second in the major leagues in ERA behind Cam Schlittler of the New York Yankees, has won two of his past three decisions.
He also has pitched effectively in his no-decisions, including Sunday against the visiting Seattle Mariners, when he scattered one run and three hits in six innings. Martin walked two and struck out nine in the 2-1 win.
Martin credits a comfortable, ongoing dialogue with first-year White Sox pitching coach Zach Bove for helping him to stay confident and sharp.
“It’s just like, hey, ‘What did we get away with? What could we have done better? What did we not execute that we wanted to execute?’ And then fine-tune those things,” Martin said.
“I give him a lot of credit, as well. He does a really good job of telling me what I need to do, and sometimes I get a little bit too nitpicky and he kind of backs off and says, ‘Hey, you are doing really well. Don’t overthink it too much.’ So, it’s been a nice balance of wanting to get better and trusting the process, but also trusting yourself and trusting your stuff.”
Right-hander Jameson Taillon (2-2, 3.94) will get the call for the Cubs. Taillon has pitched to a 2.45 ERA in two May starts covering 11 innings but was the tough-luck loser Sunday at Texas after spacing one run and four hits in 5 1/3 innings. The Rangers won 3-0.
Taillon is 1-0 with a 4.41 ERA in six career starts against the White Sox, with 30 strikeouts in 32 2/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
