April14th Game’s Results and Analysis

April14^th Game’s Results and Analysis

San Francisco Giants 10 - Chicago Cubs 7

Winning Pitcher: Kontos (1-1) Losing Pitcher: Camp (0-1)

Save by Romo (7)

Player of the Game: Hunter Pence

The Chicago Cubs let another game slip away from them. The Cubs almost evened up the series with the San Francisco Giants, but folded at the end of the game. The Cubs took the lead in the first inning from homeruns by Starlin Castro and Nate Schierholtz. Although the Cubbies had the lead for a majority of the game, they lost the lead in the 6^th inning because of pass balls. However, the Cubbies would take the lead back from the Giants in the bottom of the 8^th from a bases loaded walk to Luis Valbuena. The next inning the Cubs would call on Shawn Camp to get the save, but he gave up the tying run to the Giants by giving up a two out homer to Hunter Pence. Therefore Pence was the player of the game because in the top of the tenth inning the Giants scored 3 runs, one off a balk from Camp, which led them to the victory.

Impressive: There were two things that I found impressive in today’s game and they were Starlin Castro and Nate Schierholtz. Castro had an impressive day because he went 3 for 5 with a two run homer in the first inning. Although Castro’s performance in today’s game was great that’s not what impressed me, what impresses about Castro is his power swing. If Castro can keep up with his homerun rate he could hit over 20 homeruns this year, which would be really impressive. Nate Schierholtz also hit a two run homer in the first, but I’m impressed by how well he has started off as a Cub. Schierholtz has shown Cubs fans what they should expect from him, which is a hard working discipline hitter that can field his position well. I can see Schierholtz batting over .280s and have over 20 homers with at least 80 RBIs.

Surprising: The most surprising thing about today’s game was Edwin Jackson and his struggles in the 6^th inning. Jackson was pitching so well in today’s game, although he did give up an unearned run in the first, but he struggled with his control in the 6^th which costed him his victory as a Cubbie. Jackson ended the day by going 5.1 innings allowing 5 runs, 4 unearned, on 5 hits and 4 walks. Jackson did strikeout nine in the game, but his pass balls/wild pitches in the 6^th will be what is remembered about his start.

Concerning: The most concerning thing about today’s game was Dioner Navarro’s defensive skills behind the plate. Navarro had a difficult time blocking pitches because he just tried to block pass balls with his glove. If Navarro would have used his body to block some of the wild pitches then the Cubs might have prevented enough runs to win the game today. I know that Navarro deserved to be in lineup after his two pinch hit homers, but he still needs to be reliable behind the plate if he wants to play every day. Another concern of mine is who is going to close games and save them for the Cubbies. After another blown save, the Cubs just look lost in the ninth and have no answers to prevent games getting away from them.