2015 Chicago Cubs --- Road to a Dynasty

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Chicago (AP)The match up would faces the Chicago Cubs pitcher Jason Hammel, who was a member of the team last year, and was later traded to Oakland in the Jeff Samardzija trade and later resigned with the Cubs in the offseason. Against Rockies youngster Eddie Butler at the young age of 24.

Manager Joe Maddon continued to surprise many by keeping rookie Jorge Soler batting 3rd despite being hit less one series into the season this means Rizzo will continue to hit 2nd. The Cubs won all three against the Cardinals but not thanks to their big 3 (Rizzo, Soler and Starlin Castro) as all three struggled mightily, perhaps they were pressing too much. The Cubs are also without any long ball home runs from any one in the line up... At all.... In any case here is the action from the game.

Starting the action off was the previously mentioned Soler coming through with a two out two strike hit in the 1st inning. That was added to by surprise clean up man Chris Coghlan and fellow star Starlin Castro with an RBI Single that drove Soler to the plate.

The Cubs also cleared up the issue of having no home runs when Dexter Fowler, in his homecoming back to Colorado, destroyed a ball in the 5th inning with Tommy La Stella on base for a 2 Run homer to right field.

Butler would continue to struggle during the remainder of the inning until he was eventually pulled from the game before the end of the 5th inning. The first batter to great new reliever Christian Friedrich would be Starlin Castro. And on cue, as if I wrote the intro to the game after the game, Castro delivers a two run double to center scoring Soler and Chris Coghlan making the lead 5-0 Cubs.

The Rockies would not be kept quiet for long and were able to load the bases in the bottom half of the inning when former Cub prospect, D.J. LeMahieu was able to hit a double down the left field line scoring two. Troy Tulowitzki was able to then hit a Sac Fly to Right Field just out of the arm strength of Jorge Soler. Hammel then served up a 2 run homer to Chris Dickerson which tied the game all up at 5-5. Hammel would get out of the inning and that would be the end of his day.

The 6th inning wasn't much different for the Cubs, Justin Grimm was the new Cubs pitcher and he served up Carlos Gonzalez a nice home run ball to right field for a lead for the Rockies. Grimm's day didn't get much better when he served up a 2 run homer to Hundley to left, which would bring a quick call to the Bullpen with the hope of keeping the game close.

Jason Motte also allowed a RBI single from Carlos Gonzalez later in the 7th inning. That was followed by an RBI double by Nolan Arrenando. This would end Motte's time on the mound. This would make the score 10-5 Rockies with the Cubs only having 6 outs remaining.

Tommy La Stella attempted the start to a comeback with a Sac Fly in the 8th scoring Miguel Montero. Dexter Fowler would follow with an RBI Double that would score Mike Olt from third making it a 10-7 ball game. This forced the Rockies to go to the pen and set up man Rafael Betancourt. That was all the Cubs would get in that inning and would be forced to fight in the 9th inning.

Another former Cub would shut down the winning streak when Latroy Hawkins pitched a perfect 9th inning forcing the Cubs to take their first loss on the season.

The Cubs were even with the Rockies on the hits tally 12-12 but the Rockies were able to win the game 10-7.

W: Boone Logan (1-0)
L: Justin Grimm (0-1)
SV: LaTroy Hawkins (1)

The Cubs were able to have hits from 2 of their big 3 and got their first homer of the season, but they were unable to get the win. The big star for the Cubs was Dexter Fowler who was 3/5 with 1HR, 1 2B, 1R and 3 RBI.

The Cubs 3-1 will look to bounce back against the Rockies (2-2) in the next game as Kyle Hendricks will take on Christian Bergman in both pitchers first start of the season.

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Quote: Originally Posted by LopaKa

Nice job opening the season with a sweep bro, the Cubs seem like a fun team to play with. Good luck with this, I'll be following

Appreciate the support, hoping to get some good graphics going here soon.

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Colorado (AP) - The game matched the Cubs, Kyle Hendricks against the Rockies Christian Bergman.

Things got off to a hot start when Dexter Fowler and Anthony Rizzo completed a double steal. This was followed by a ground out by Starlin Castro that would have been a simple double play had it not been for the steal. Chris Coghlan stayed hot and made it a 2-0 game in the top of the first with an RBI double scoring Rizzo.

Coghlan remained on a hot streak with another RBI double in the 3rd inning in which he drove in Jorge Soler to make it 3-0. Miguel Montero was able to follow Coghlan and drive in Starlin Castro with an RBI ground out.

Charlie Blackmon kept the Rockies in the game with a Solo Homer in the bottom half of the inning.

Arismendy Alcantara stayed hot and was able to drive in Starlin Castro in the top of the 5th inning against new pitcher Christian Frederich.

In the bottom of the 5th inning, Kyle Hendricks got into some trouble when D.J. LeMahieu hit a double with bases loaded that cleared the bases making it 5-4.

The bullpen was able to come in and shut the door effectively for both teams after that until in the top of the 8th inning rookie star Jorge Soler hit his first home run of the young season to Right Center field into the Cubs bullpen for a 6-4 lead.

In the bottom of the 9th, the Cubs Hector Rondon had a save in hand until Dexter Fowler dropped and I mean dropped a fly ball in center field allowing a run to score and the tying run to reach second base. However, Rondon was able to duplicate the pitch and get another pop out this time to the sure handed Jorge Soler.

The Cubs win!

Cubs 6
Rockies 5

Hit battle
Cubs 15
Rockies 9

W: Kyle Hendricks (1-0)
L: Christian Bergman (0-1)
S: Hector Rondon (4)

Next up for the Cubbies: They attempt to win the series in the next game against the Rockies.

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Colorado (AP) - Jon Lester (1-0, 1.42era) takes on Tyler Matzek (0-1, 3.00 era)

To start the game, Dexter Fowler was aggressive with the first pitch of the game and led the game off with a Triple. After Starlin Castro was hit by a pitch, Anthony Rizzo was able to hit an RBI single to Left field. The Cubs were unable to get anything else across the plate in the inning.

In the second inning the Cubs struck again, David Ross reached on a one out single that was followed by a 2 out triple by Tommy La Stella.

In the 3rd the Cubs stayed hot with an RBI single by Anthony Rizzo that scored Starlin Castro who had reached on a double.

In the 4th inning after back to back hits by Jon Lester, Yes that Jon Lester, and Tommy La Stella, Dexter Fowler roped a ball down the line in right for an RBI double. This would knock Rockies starter Tyler Matzek out of the game down 4-0 with two runners on. The Rockies would bring in Christian Frederich.

Matzek just didn't have his command today, he was missing his spots badly and leaving pitches up in the zone.

Frederich was able to get out of the inning without a scratch after two hard liners and a pop out.

The Rockies got on a board after a hanging curve ball from Lester was rocked by Michael McKenry for a solo homer.

The 6th was again dominated by a Rockies homer, this time on a two run shot by Dickerson to right field to make it a 4-3 game. Later in the inning the Rockies were able to tie the game up with an RBI double by Drew Stubbs.

In the bottom of the 9th with Neil Ramirez pitching Justin Morneau hit a walk off homer to right field that was helped out by the altitude.

Final
Rockies 5 on 9 hits
Cubs 4 on 13 hits

W: Rafael Betancourt (1-0)
L: Neil Ramirez (0-1)

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Chicago - (AP) Mike Leake (0-0, 1.29)vs Jake Arrieta (1-0, 1.13)

The 3-3 Reds visit the 4-2 Cubs.

The speed of Billy Hamilton was on display early when he was able to reach on a bunt single and score on a simple double to center field all the way from first base in the first inning. Phillips would also score when Todd Fraizer traded places.

In the second inning, Zak Cozart and Mike Leake were able to score after a Brandon Phillips rbi Single making it 4-0 Reds early on in the game.

Jake Arrieta was pulled after getting the first two outs of after giving up an RBI single to Devin Meserosco for the 8th hit of the game. Edwin Jackson was brought in as a clean up man.

In the 4th inning the Cubs finally started to cut into the Reds lead with an RBI single from Mike Olt that scored Chris Coghlan.

The rest of the game was relatively quiet as neither team mounted a threat.

Mike Leake would finish the game out for a complete game victory over the Cubs.

Final
Reds 5 on 12 Hits Mike Leake (1-0)
Cubs 1 on 8 hits Jake Arrieta (1-1)

The Cubs will probably need to call up an extra reliever after using the bullpen for 7 innings.

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Chicago (AP) - The hot hitting Tommy LaStella who is hitting over .400 on the year, mainly from the 9th spot in the line up while playing second base appears to have injured his rib cage in the game against the Reds last night and will be placed on the disabled list.

The Cubs made a corresponding move by calling up Zach Rosscup from AAA Iowa.

Rosscup had a "Cup" of coffee in the Majors in 2014 and in 2013. He has a career line of (1-0 with 28ks and a 6.75era) the move was anticipated as the Bullpen was used in mass in the previous game. Time will tell whether the Cubs will go with a short bench for long or not.

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Chicago (AP) -Raisel Iglesias (0-0, 7.20era) vs Travis Wood (1-0, 0.00era)

This game started off much like the last game. Todd Fraizer sent a ball to the wall that was able to score Billy Hamilton. Wood was then able to strand two runners on base to end the inning.

The fourth inning was led by Todd Frazier who hit a solo homer to left field. Clearly Frazier is destroying the Cubs pitching this series already.

In the fifth inning, Joey Votto doubled home a Brandon Phillips run that was aided by a poor throw from center field.

Edwin Jackson would be called on for the 2nd time in two days to eat some innings from the Reds after Wood was replaced with a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 5th.

In the bottom of the sixth, Anthony Rizzo had finally had enough and drove a hard liner over the wall into left center to make the score 3-1 with his first homer of the year.

In the bottom of the 7th inning, Chris Coghlan hit is own solo homer to left center. It seems while Iglesias was pitching well that he has a tendency to give up the long ball. In for him would be Kevin Gregg, now that is a name from the past for Cubs fans.

Kevin Gregg was the same Gregg that Cubs fans remembered, Miguel Montero doubled, Jonathan Herrera pinch hit for the pitchers spot and had a base hit. Then Arismendy Alcantara hit an infield single that was able to bring in Montero for a tie ball game.

Gregg was quickly pulled in favor of Burke Badenhop who did not fair any better when Dexter Fowler drove in Herrera with an RBI double down the line. Jorge Soler followed with his own RBI double, driving in Alcantara but Fowler was thrown out by a few steps at the plate trying to stretch the rally.

Badenhop was pulled after intentionally walking Anthony Rizzo. Tony Cingrani would be next, the 4th pitcher of the inning for the Reds. Cingrani would get helped out by a nice defensive play by Brandon Phillips to get out of the inning.

Pedro Strop would come in for the 8th inning and did not allow one base runner.

Cingrani would be pulled by the Reds after allowing the bases to get loaded with one out in the bottom of the inning. Jumbo Diaz would be the next Reds Pitcher trotted out to the mound.

Alcantara would be fast enough to beat out a double play ball that would score Chris Coghlan.

Hector Rondon would be called on for the 5th time this season hoping to keep his perfect save record on the year. That would work out just as planned for Rondon who picked up his 5th save in 5 attempts.

Final Score
Reds 3 on 10 hits
Cubs 6 on 15 hits

W: Edwin Jackson (1-0)
L: Kevin Gregg (1-1)
S: Hector Rondon (5)

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Due to a computer crash in mid report the game report was lost.

Game highlights
Bryan Pena had a pinch hit 2 run homer that took the lead for the Reds in the top of the 7th.

The Cubs had not one but two injuries in the game. Justin Grimm and Mike Olt both game up injured during the game.

Final Score

Reds 4 on 6 hits
Cubs 2 on 7 hits

W: JJ Hoover (2-0)
L Jason Hammel (0-1)
S: Aroldis Chapman (3)