Fourteen miles south of Alfonso Rivas’ hometown, the Chicago Cubs wanted a clutch hit from the 25-year-old first baseman.
If Rivas felt any strain this week taking part in in entrance of household and pals at Petco Park, he actually didn’t present it.
At some point after connecting on a two-run homer, Rivas had a possibility to salvage a victory for the Cubs in Wednesday’s collection remaining after the bullpen squandered a late lead. Rivas hit a two-run single with the bases loaded within the eighth inning to interrupt the tie. Proper-hander Rowan Wick’s two-inning save secured the Cubs’ 7-5 win.
The Cubs took two of three in San Diego for his or her first collection win since opening weekend in opposition to the Milwaukee Brewers. Supervisor David Ross lauded Rivas’ method.
“He’s actually dealing with the second effectively,” Ross stated. “He’s received such a relaxed demeanor about him and that’s why he seems to be so easy at first and within the field. There’s not so much to his swing. He’s simply making an attempt to place the barrel on the ball.”
The Cubs, nevertheless, can’t appear to keep away from accidents these days. Left-handed reliever Sean Newcomb on Wednesday grew to become the thirteenth participant on the injured listing with a left ankle sprain suffered within the outfield Sunday throughout batting apply.
Shedding shortstop Nico Hoerner for any notable time can be robust to beat, particularly defensively. Hoerner was recognized with a proper ankle sprain after exiting the sport within the backside of the second inning. Preliminary imaging didn’t reveal any damaged bones, although the swelling round his ankle should lower earlier than the Cubs can decide the severity. Ross believes Hoerner can be OK after a few days off.
Hoerner collided with second-base umpire Dan Iassogna in shallow right-center subject throughout Jurickson Profar’s triple within the first inning.
Hoerner, shifted in shallow proper for the at-bat, began working to his place because the cutoff man whereas Iassogna started transferring towards shallow middle to get a clearer view of Jason Heyward’s play on the ball. Iassogna and Hoerner by no means noticed one another whereas watching the ball, ensuing of their toes getting tangled and knocking each to the bottom.
Through a pool reporter, Iassogna stated his collision with Hoerner was the primary time that occurred within the outfield throughout his profession. Iassogna’s project because the second-base umpire requires him to exit towards the fly ball so he can decide whether or not it’s a catch, dwelling run or something in between.
He spoke with Ross to see how Hoerner was doing and deliberate to examine on him after the sport. Iassogna hopes Hoerner gained’t land on the injured listing due to the play.
“I’m all the time making an attempt to do the identical factor. I’m seeing the ball and making an attempt to choose up the fielder,” Iassogna stated. “After I made my preliminary look I didn’t see anyone. I believed I had an open highway after which we backed into one another.
“I didn’t know who it was or what occurred till I seemed down and noticed it was him.”
Hoerner initially remained within the recreation, placing out within the prime of the second. Ildemaro Vargas changed him when the Cubs returned to the sphere for the underside of the inning. When the damage occurred, Hoerner initially wasn’t optimistic, however he felt higher after getting remedy on the ankle through the recreation.
“Within the shift and issues like that generally we’re elsewhere than persons are used to,” Hoerner stated. “I used to be watching the ball identical to the umpire was and I used to be on the bottom earlier than I actually realized what occurred. We’re doing our jobs and bizarre issues occur generally.”
Willson Contreras’ robust begin continued with an opposite-field solo dwelling run within the first inning. The Cubs tacked on 4 runs within the third due to Patrick Knowledge (RBI single), Frank Schwindel (two-run double to cap an 11-pitch at-bat) and Jason Heyward (RBI single) coming by with runners on base in opposition to Padres starter Nick Martinez.
House runs by Eric Hosmer and Luke Voit, the latter’s second of the sport, in seventh arrange the necessity for Rivas’ huge hit the subsequent inning.
“You will have a plan, you’ve gotten an method and stick with that, don’t actually freak out or something that,” Rivas stated. “That’s what I used to be actually making an attempt to hammer down, and I received an excellent pitch to hit.”
Keegan Thompson acquired the telephone name round 11 p.m. Tuesday to be taught he was getting the beginning for the Cubs bullpen recreation. He caught to his typical warmup routine, not eager to deviate from what has been working for him. Thompson held the Padres to 2 runs in 4 innings.
“I began with the identical mindset as a bullpen outing,” Thompson stated. “I don’t wish to change one thing up immediately for one outing.”
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