MIAMI — It is likely to be tempting to level and chuckle on the guys on the opposite aspect of the sphere this week when describing how the Cubs loved their most dominant collection since final summer time.
“That’s an easy trap,” supervisor Joe Maddon stated after the Cubs closed out a three-game sweep of the horrible, tanking Marlins with a 6-Zero victory Wednesday evening behind one other commanding efficiency by left-hander Cole Hamels.
Regardless, the Cubs don’t have the time or inclination to consider what anyone else is likely to be as they consider their very own id after their tough begin.
“We obviously know that we need to come in and start winning,” stated Hamels, who earned his third consecutive victory with seven scoreless innings — with out permitting a stroll throughout that successful streak. “We know we’re a superb ballclub. No matter what crew we’re enjoying, it’s simply go on the market and win.
Hamels pitched seven scoreless innings to earn his third consecutive victory. He hasn’t walked a batter in his final 22 innings.
“It’s simply getting again to realizing who we’re and what we’re going to perform this yr — and that’s get again to the highest of the division.”
Since their 2-7 street journey to open the season, the Cubs have received six of eight to get again to inside one recreation of .500 as they take Thursday off forward of a weekend dwelling collection towards the Diamondbacks.
Hamels, who blamed himself for 3 walks in his season debut regardless of a sketchy strike zone, hasn’t walked a batter in 22 consecutive innings since a two-walk fourth in that begin.
“Woof, he was really good,” Maddon stated. “And I believe that’s going to proceed. Of course, he’s going to have a foul outing infrequently, however the supply, the ball out of the hand, the speed numbers are so good.
“This may maintain itself for a bit.”
Ex-Cub Starlin Castro had one of the best shot for injury towards Hamels with one out and the bases loaded within the seventh. But after getting forward 3-Zero within the rely and taking two strikes, he struck out swinging at a 92-mph outdoors fastball.
Hamels, who then accomplished his scoreless outing by getting Miguel Rojas to fly to proper, stated getting the 2 strikes trying put him in place to go for the chase pitch on 3-2.
“That’s the second time I’ve seen him like that,” stated Castro, giving Hamels credit score for command and tempo and including that he by no means noticed him shake off catcher Willson Contreras.
“The first time was with the Cubs,” Castro stated, “when he threw a no-hitter against us [in 2015].”
It was the primary collection sweep for the Cubs since a four-gamer towards the Reds in August final season.
And Hamels’ gem, with two extra scoreless innings from the bullpen, gave the Cubs back-to-back shutouts for the primary time since a pair of 1-Zero victories over the Pirates per week earlier in August.
“It’s getting better,” Maddon stated of the general play, particularly the pitching. “The bullpen — that’s the biggest difference. The bullpen seems to have righted itself a little bit.”
The starters weren’t dangerous, both, no matter what anyone may consider the woeful lineup employed by the 4-15 Marlins.
Cubs starters Yu Darvish, Jose Quintana and Hamels mixed for 19‰ innings within the collection, permitting solely the 2 runs Darvish gave up Monday (0.92 ERA).
They didn’t permit a stroll to the final 56 batters they confronted.
The Marlins didn’t rating after the fourth inning of the collection opener because the Cubs’ workers takes a 23-inning scoreless streak into the time off.
“When our pitchers and our lineup do the job,” shortstop Javy Baez stated, “there’s nobody that can beat us.”