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The Forest Scout

The Student News Site of Lake Forest High School

The Forest Scout

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The Forest Scout

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Did You Have Any Doubt? It May be Destiny: Cubs Win Game 1 Thriller in Epic Fashion

Step two of the Cubs’ playoff run began Saturday night as the Cubs looked to jump out ahead of the Dodgers 1 game to 0 in the National League Championship Series. The Dodgers had to play a pivotal game five to make it to the NLCS, which meant that they used some of their best pitchers in that contest and got a smaller amount of rest than the Cubs did. With that being said, the Dodgers turned to Kenta Maeda in hope that he would lead them to a game one victory. Maeda had to face Jon Lester, who is shaping up to be the Cubs postseason ace. The Dodgers were resilient Saturday night, but was their scrappy fight enough to take down the Cubs? Well, maybe without the presence of the bottom of the 8th Cubs’ magic that is becoming all-too-common.

After the first few at-bats for the Cubs in the bottom of the first, it seemed like it may be a long night for Dodger nation. The leadoff man for the Cubs, Dexter Fowler, started the game with a double followed by an RBI single for Kris Bryant. It would get even worse in the second.

After Lester concluded his first two complete shutout innings of the night, Jason Heyward started the Cubs second with a leadoff triple. It was evident that Heyward would score with Javier Baez coming to the plate. With the infield in to try and prevent Heyward from scoring, Baez blooped one over their heads into centerfield. Heyward had no problem getting home and Baez, being the smart baserunner he is, reached second on what usually is a single for most. In the next at-bat, a ball got passed Dodgers catcher Carlos Ruiz, making it easy for Baez to steal third. On an attempted squeeze play by the coaching staff, Jon Lester whiffed on a bunt, but Baez was already halfway down the 3rd baseline expecting Lester to put the ball in play. Instead of sliding back into third trying to avoid the pick-off throw by Ruiz, Baez turned on the jets and started sprinting home. Ruiz attempted to get Baez in a rundown by getting it to Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner. By the time Turner got the ball, however, Baez was preparing to slide into home. Javier Baez got under Turner’s throw safely stealing the toughest base to earn in the game. The last time the Cubs stole home in a postseason game was the 1907 World Series when the Cubs won their first ever title as a club.

Coincidence? I think not.

In the top half of the 8th, the Dodgers bats began knocking on the door. After an Andre Ethier solo home run in the 5th to cut the Cubs lead to two, the Dodgers packed the bases loaded with no outs, threatening to put some more runs on the board. Once again–for the second time in this postseason–Joe Maddon made the decision to put Aroldis Chapman in during the 8th to try and get the Cubs out of a jam. Just like in game four of the ALDS, Chapman failed to get out of the inning without allowing runs to be scored. Adrian Gonzalez singled to center scoring two, which resulted in the score becoming a 3-3 tie. Luckily, knowing what the Cubs can do in intense, late game situations, there was no need for nervousness.  

To start things off in the 8th, Ben Zobrist doubled into right, acting as ingredient number in making an epic statement. Ingredient two was to get some fellow ducks on the pond. Strategically, Joe Blanton intentionally walked Jason Heyward and Chris Coughlan so he could face pinch hitter Miguel Montero, therefore removing Chapman, the Cubs’ most dominant bullpen arm, from the contest. At this moment, the bases were loaded with two outs. If Montero could reach in any way he would become game one’s hero.

With an 0-2 count on Montero, Blanton threw a hanging slider down the center of the plate. At that point, Montero didn’t just become a hero, but a legend of October lore. He sent a high fly ball soaring up far back into the right field bleachers, effectively giving the Cubs their first grand slam of the postseason as well as a 7-3 lead. Joe Maddon yet again made a great call regarding a pinch hitter. Needless to say, Wrigley was shaking and the FS1 telecast had to be muted due to the intensity overtaking the stadium. Immediately following that–as if a grand slam wasn’t hurtful enough to the Dodgers–Dexter Fowler laced a solo home run to a similar spot in right ,giving the Cubs a commanding 8-3 lead. The Cubs once again proved that you can never count them out.

Hector Rondon ended up closing out Saturday night’s game. The final score finished at 8-4, as the Dodgers added one in the 9th, but the Cubs would take a monumental game one win.

My biggest takeaway from Saturday night’s contest featured the Cubs’ defense. There was a lot of positive action from the Cubs today, nothing more impressive, however, than some of the plays that they made in the field. Dexter Fowler rarely tonight let any balls fall out in center field. He made two spectacular diving plays in left and right center respectively, preventing possible doubles from the Dodgers. Ben Zobrist also made a stellar play in the second inning. After a pitcher single by Kenta Maeda, Adrian Gonzalez was sent home only to be thrown out at the plate on a strike from Zobrist, preventing the Dodgers to get on the board early. Anthony Rizzo also had a strong defensive day. He made some nifty plays out at first getting his jersey and keeping all the balls in front of him in the infield. He also ended the game with a line drive snag sent right to him and then tossed it to Addison Russell at second to double off Andrew Toles who wasn’t able to recover in time. Jon Lester also pitched a fantastic 6 innings only allowing one run.

The Cubs will be back at it again on Sunday night as they get prepared to face off against Clayton Kershaw who is on short rest. Kyle Hendricks will be on the bump for the Cubs Sunday looking to take the first two home games of the series. Expect a low scoring game Sunday, but as this postseason has proved, you never know what is going to transpire. The game tonight is at 7:00 on FS1. Of course, be sure to check in with The Forest Scout the following morning of a Cubs postseason game for a complete wrap-up of the previous night’s action. If you enjoyed Saturday night’s game I’d forecast nothing less for Sunday’s game as the Cubs  are attempting to make their way to the World Series.  

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About the Contributor
Joe Thomas, Author
Joe Thomas is a staff writer for The Forest Scout who has a burning passion for sports. He covers high school football, hockey and baseball along with the MLB and college basketball. He constantly dreams of being a writer for a professional sports organization when he is older. You can find the majority of his work in the In Between The Lines section.
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