|
 As a result, the center fielder slugged a three-run, go-ahead home
run to give the San Diego Padres a 5-4 victory over the Chicago
Cubs.
With an 0-2 count and two outs in the seventh inning, Cubs
right-handed reliever Brian Schlitter delivered what he and catcher
Welington Castillo figured was an inning-ending called third strike
and started to walk off with a 4-2 lead intact.
Not so fast. Home plate umpire Sam Holbrook said the pitch was a
ball, handing Myers another chance. He took the next offering and
launched a 421-foot shot to left-center to score second baseman Jedd
Gyorko and shortstop Alexi Amarista for a one-run lead.
"The catcher jumped up and he thought it was a strike, but the ump
called it a ball, so it was a ball," said Myers, who went 3-for-4.
Myers also made an adjustment just before hitting his first homer of
the year.
"I knew (Schlitter) had a good two-seamer, so I was kind of cheating
in; but, sure enough, he was throwing away," Myers said. "I was able
to focus back to the middle, so I was happy with the result."
San Diego claimed its third straight win and sixth in seven games in
the opener of the three-game weekend series.
Padres starter James Shields (2-0) worked six innings for the win
and reliever Craig Kimbrel picked up his fourth save.
"I didn't have the greatest stuff today," said Shields, who gave up
four runs (three earned) and five hits, struck out nine and walked
two. "It was one of those games where you grind it through. I didn't
feel too good in the bullpen. (But) the team did a great job of
coming back and picking me up."
Schlitter (0-1) worked 1/3 inning and took the loss.
"He's probably the guy that puts the ball on the ground more than
any of our relief pitchers, so I just thought it was the better
chance of an (inning-ending) ground ball," said Cubs manager Joe
Maddon, who was ejected for arguing balls and strikes. "Of course
you'd like to have that pitch called a strike; but, even after it
wasn't, you have to make a better pitch than that.
"I'm not going to sit here and blame umpires for our lack of
execution."
Friday was also the major-league debut of Cubs third-base prospect
Kris Bryant.
Bryant, who hit .321 with three homers and 10 RBIs in seven games at
Triple-A Iowa, struck out three times and grounded out once.
"It was fun. ... I just absorbed everything," he said. "Sure, I
could have done a little better. I felt there's two sides to the
ball. I felt I did well on defense; I didn't come around hitting,
but I helped my team out as much as I could."
[to top of second column] |
Bryant was sure-handed in the field. He picked up a fifth-inning
grounder with his bare hand and made an on-target throw to first
that was just a half-second late. He later handled a sharp liner and
threw to first for an inning-ending out.
The Cubs scored twice in the third after right-hander Jason Hammel
led off with a double.
Second baseman Jonathan Herrera's bunt and a Padres error led to
Hammel coming home. Herrera, meanwhile, moved to third on center
fielder Dexter Fowler's fielder's choice grounder and scored as
Shields' wild pitch bounced back to the wall behind home plate.
The Padres got both runs back on third baseman Will Middlebrooks'
homer with two outs in the fourth. Middlebrooks' shot -- his second
of the season -- came on a 1-2 pitch and drove home first baseman
Yonder Alonso to knot the score at 2.
The Cubs reclaimed a two-run lead in the fifth as Herrera scored
from second on right fielder Jorge Soler's hit and first baseman
Anthony Rizzo later doubled to score Fowler.
Hammel (1-1) worked 6 1/3 innings and left with the lead but ended
with no decision. He gave up four runs and seven hits, struck out
five and walked one.
NOTES: LF Justin Upton went 0-for-4 on Friday, ending a 10-game
hitting streak. ... San Diego starting pitchers entered Friday with
a 2.43 ERA through nine games, second best in the league and third
best in the big leagues. Starters had allowed only five unearned
runs during that span. ... The three-game weekend series in Chicago
opens a seven-game trip for the Padres that includes a four-game
series against the Rockies in Denver. ... The Padres will send RHP
Tyson Ross (1-0, 3.75 ERA) against Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks (0-0,
10.38 ERA) on Saturday. ... Along with 3B Kris Bryant, the Cubs
activated INF Chris Denorfia off the 15-day disabled list (mild
hamstring strain). ... Also Friday, the Cubs placed 3B Mike Olt on
the DL with a hairline fracture on his right wrist and RHP Neil
Ramirez was put on the DL with right shoulder inflammation after
throwing just three pitches in a ninth-inning appearance Wednesday.
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