After not lacking a single spot in his warmup Sunday, Cubs right-hander Tyler Chatwood’s first pitch went previous catcher Willson Contreras and hit the brick wall behind house plate. Then he threw three extra balls to stroll the primary batter he confronted.
Boos got here from the followers at Wrigley Field, and the all-too-familiar begin was sufficient to have many considering, ‘‘Here we go again.’’
But then one thing clicked.
One day after right-hander Yu Darvish gave up two house runs within the Cubs’ first loss in per week, Chatwood received them again on monitor heading into their time off Monday. He allowed just one extra stroll and pitched six scoreless
innings in his first begin of the season.
‘‘That was pretty spectacular,’’ supervisor Joe Maddon stated after the Cubs’ 2-1 victory towards the Diamondbacks. ‘‘The command, the stuff, the ease at which he was throwing it, that was pretty outstanding. . . . That’s not a fluke. He’s able to doing that type of stuff.’’
Chatwood, who allowed solely two hits and struck out three, exceeded everybody’s expectations. That included these of the Cubs, who recalled right-hander Alec Mills from Class AAA Iowa earlier than the sport to again up Chatwood, although he finally wasn’t used.
After Chatwood’s outing was over, his teammates took turns hugging him within the dugout. Contreras gave him two high-fives earlier than they embraced.
‘‘Anytime someone struggles, it’s at all times good to see them have success,’’ first baseman Anthony Rizzo stated. ‘‘ ‘Chat’ type of has the quick finish now along with his function, and he’s accepted it. And he’s been able to pitch and has had an ideal perspective ever since he stepped in final 12 months.’’
The Cubs signed Chatwood to a three-year, $38 million contract in December 2017 to be a member of their rotation. But he struggled along with his command final season and misplaced his beginning function in July.
Chatwood had made 4 reduction appearances earlier than beginning towards the Diamondbacks. Adjusting to the bullpen hasn’t been simple, however Chatwood stated shedding his beginning function has given him a brand new perspective.
‘‘It’s not enjoyable,’’ stated Chatwood, who hadn’t pitched greater than three innings this season earlier than Sunday. ‘‘But it kind of made me not take it for granted. Everything I do now, there’s a function to it; there’s a motive why I’m doing it. . . . I really feel like I’m on the proper path.’’
Though Chatwood’s efficiency was spectacular, it received’t be sufficient to get him again within the rotation, particularly on condition that left-hander Jon Lester (strained hamstring) is progressing nicely. One day after Lester threw three innings in a simulated recreation, Maddon stated he was ‘‘doing well’’ and may return Thursday towards the Dodgers.
Regardless, Chatwood stated his robust outing strengthened his confidence in himself.
‘‘I know what I’m able to doing,’’ he stated. ‘‘That’s what I’ve completed up to now: throw a variety of fastball sinkers, attempt to get fast contact and go deep within the recreation. I used to be very environment friendly right this moment, which was good.’’