Back by popular demand, HotCuts and Bridges is dusting off its printing press and returning to these airwaves. A contentious and protracted campaign resulted in a cliffhanger vote last night in which The Founder voted "aye" for Redux and The Writer abstained.
It will be Trevor Bauer and the Cleveland Indians visiting Tyler Chatwood and the Chicago Cubs tonight at Wrigley Field, 16:05 Pacific daylight time. Though they lead the woeful American League Central Division, the Indians need a win to even their record, which stands at 22-23. The Cubs sit two games back of Milwaukee in the National League Central with a 25-19 mark.
We will see you later on then for all the fun and festivities that are sure to accompany tonight's HotCut.
Ask Pat
Chatwild
I've got the 'Cut on TV. Hugo is in my lap, shedding. Chatwood walked a couple, top two, but a Roberto Pérez GIDP and then a Trevor Bauer groundout erased the runners. Bauer has one career hit.
Bottom two. Schwarber, 8. It's sunny at Wrigley and looks on the cool side. I check the box score. 53 degrees. Unbelievable! It was 85° here this afternoon in St Louis. Where between here and Chicago are those 30 degrees distributed? Six degrees an hour up I-55... .
Top 3, Lindor walks. Brantley walks. José Ramírez at bat. He rips a 2-2 slider foul. He goes down and torques on a pitch as well as any. Ohhp—ninety-four down and in, Ramírez turns it around, drop it in the basket. It's 3-0 CLE in a little thing we like to call the HotCut.
The broadcast flashes a stat box, most career hits by active major league switch-hitters. Melky, the current batter is third on that list. Here it is:
José Reyes 1,786
Victor Martinez 2,067
Melky Cabrera 1,786
Asdrúbal Cabrera 1,440
Ben Zobrist 1,419
Chatwood walks Melky. That's five walks. Cub fans boo. Mound visit number three! I've switched the audio feed to Cleveland radio, Tom Hamilton. And of course he's going nuts. Strike one to Kipnis, Chatwood's 64th pitch, 37 of them balls.
"Make that 38," says Hamilton.
Kipnis excuse-me-swings one to Chatwood, 1-3. Kipnis is on thin ice. A high strike slides in to the Indians catcher for strike one. Pérez, 9, SF. As Alonso scores it's 4-0 Cleveland.
Chatwood spikes one, Melky had moved up to third on the sac fly so anything that gets past Contreras could be a run. Hamilton lauds the work Contreras has done behind the plate today. Chatwood uncorks a screamer for ball four. Even though it's Bauer coming up, Maddon is lifting Chatwood. That was about to enter Mitchell Boggs meltdown territory. Maddon made the right move and not a second too soon. Third inning, no one out, ouch.
Gotta Love...
Johnny Field, Rays, RF
Eighty-grade name, as they say. A .902 OPS? Huh? I had never heard of him and he has played well so far in 23 games for Tampa.
Rout at Wrigley
Lindor doubles off the brick wall in right-center, a beautiful swing, plenty of carry, over Zobrist. Brantley rips one foul. Mike Montgomery has thrown 52 pitches in 2 1/3 IP. Not so good. It's 7-0 CLE.
"Rout at Wrigley," that says it all. The Indians go up 10-0 on a bases-clearing double by Yonder Alonso.
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