Save whatever you want to say about the rest of the game, that one was lost when the decision was made to start Drew Smyly. It didn’t make sense when it was announced – he’s been good in the bullpen, he had been struggling so badly for so long as a starter, and you at least have upside/development experience if you go with Hayden Wesneski or Jordan Wicks – and it only looked worse by the time Smyly had given up seven runs. More on all that tomorrow.
To their credit, the Cubs’ bats really battled back well, and the bullpen mostly held things down. It was an outstanding performance if not for the decision to start Smyly in the first place, and then to NOT have it pre-planned as a three-inning appearance. I mean, you had Wesneski coming into a dirty inning in the 4th anyway! Why would you not have pre-planned that as a piggyback?!
The Cubs came soooo close to completing the comeback, by the way. In the 8th, if that Jeimer Candelario double doesn’t go off the side wall, I’m thinking Seiya Suzuki scores to tie the game. Then maybe the bottom of the 8th goes differently. Who knows. Alas.
Gonna keep it nice and simple …
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