The Cubs struggles with the bases filled are so deep and so well understood that I truly dont have to introduce it.
So when Jason Heyward walked with two outs in the very first inning to pack the bases for Willson Contreras, I assumed the inning was over. We all did.
Then Contreras did something wonderful. He took three straight balls off the play, laying off some nasty sliders at the same time. Flaherty then came back into the zone, and Contreras fouled off pitch after pitch, prior to serving up the 9th pitch of the at bat into center field for a two-run single:
Substantial two-out knock from @WContreras40! pic.twitter.com/yhDB0SB9dV
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 5, 2020
Reward, the long at bat and the non-out implied that Cardinals ace Jack Flaherty had to keep pressing his pitch count up, eventually tossing 43. That was silently one of the finest at bats of the year when you consider whatever.
Double bonus offer? Love the bat flip on the single:
Grinding ABs.
Willson comes through as Cubs force Flaherty to toss 43 1st inning pitches. pic.twitter.com/oY1zPo0m6c.
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) September 5, 2020.
Then Contreras did something wonderful. He took 3 straight balls off the play, laying off some nasty sliders in the procedure. Flaherty then came back into the zone, and Contreras fouled off pitch after pitch, prior to serving up the 9th pitch of the at bat into center field for a two-run single:
