*Photo from APNews.com*
While nothing is set in stone regarding roster spots for next year, Michael Hermosillo and Frank Schwindel sure are making some strong cases to be kept around. Hermosillo homered, Schwindel homered, and the Chicago Cubs held off the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 6-5 win on Friday afternoon.
Schwindel in particular is red hot as of late, with his homer making it now 4 games out of 5 that he has hit a homer in, and Schwindel has hit safely in 25 of his 30 games so far as a member of the Cubs. Hermosillo had his first career 3 hit game, including a mammoth homer in the 4th inning.
Cubs acting manager Andy Green said "I think these guys are coming up and know that you don't prove your worth in the Major Leagues inside a day, inside a week, inside a month. You've got to keep doing it again and again and again. The guys that they've kind of replaced on the diamond had done it for a lot of years to earn that reputation, so those guys are really hungry. They've been really, really good at doing everything that's been asked of them."
Alfonso Rivas and Sergio Alcantara came around to score in the second inning on a single from Hermosillo, giving the Cubs a 2-0 lead. Later that inning, an RBI single from Schwindel made it a 3-0 lead for the Cubs. In the 3rd, Matt Duffy scored on an RBI single from Austin Romine, and the Cubs had a 4-0 lead. In the 4th, Hermosillo launched a solo home run to mount the Cubs to a 5-0 lead. Then, the Pirates started to come back.
It started in the 5th inning, with Anthony Alford and Hoy Park hitting back to back solo home runs to cut the deficit to 5-2 in favor of the Cubs. In the 6th, Colin Moran scored on a controversial fielders choice call, and Alford then hit a two run homer, and the game was tied 5-5. In the bottom of the 6th, Schwindel hit a solo home run for the Cubs, giving them a 6-5 lead and putting the game away.
Trevor Megill got the win in relief, throwing 1 1/3 shutout innings, improving to 1-0 this season. Alec Mills had a good start going until the 6th inning, getting a no decision. Mills allowed all 5 Pirates runs, with only two being earned runs, on 7 hits, striking out 6 hitters in 5 2/3 innings pitched. Codi Heuer got a hold with a scoreless 8th inning, and Rowan Wick picked up his second save of the season in the 9th inning.
Mills said of Hermosillo that "Obviously, what Herm did today was pretty awesome. He was locked in all day, and I'm going to give him that chance every time, put runners in scoring position for him."
Shelby Miller was tagged with the loss for Pittsburgh, allowing the homer to Schwindel, dropping to 0-1 this season. Steven Brault lasted just 4 innings in his start, allowing 5 runs on 7 hits and 4 walks, fanning 4 hitters. Anthony Banda, Chasen Shreve, and Nick Mears also saw action out of the bullpen, all 3 pitching scoreless outings.
Brault said of Alford's two homer day that "Anthony has some crazy-stupid pop. I don’t know if you watched him take batting practice, but he is unbelievably strong, super athletic. He is going to come into his own. I have no doubt about that. The guy played football and baseball at the same time. That’s pretty insane. I’m glad he is doing well. He is a great guy."
The Cubs and Pirates continue their series on Saturday afternoon, with Kyle Hendricks starting for the Cubs, while Pittsburgh has not yet announced a starter.
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