Alec who?
Alec Mills, that’s who. And he’s just the latest reason in the early going to wonder if the Cubs rotation got a bad rap from most press box evaluators.
The Cubs’ fifth starter by unexpected need (because of José Quintana’s injury) finished off a stellar first time through the rotation for the starters with six quality innings for an 8-5 victory over the Reds in Cincinnati.
Mills allowed only two hits, both to former Cub cult hero Nick Castellanos — including a two-run homer in the fourth for the only runs against him.
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Other quick takes from the Cubs’ fourth victory in their first five games:
Start of something?
MLB
After one full turn through the rotation, the starters are 4-1 with a 1.80 ERA, averaging six innings a start with 26 strikeouts and five strikeouts.
The most noteworthy performances might have come from the two pitchers who went into the first spring training in February battling for the fifth-starter job: Tyler Chatwood and Alec Mills, each of whom pitched six strong innings to win his season debut.
It’s only one time through the rotation in a long season — no, wait, it’s not a long season.
Buckle up.
Power surge
All-Star shortstop Javy Báez was just 3-for-19 this season — including two strikeouts in his first two at-bats Tuesday — before breaking out for 10 total bases the rest of the game.
He doubled off left-hander Cody Reed and scored in the fifth, then homered off Amir Garrett and Michael Lorenzen in the seventh (solo) and ninth (two-run shot).
Let the season begin.
Who you calling a DH?
Five games into the season, Kyle Schwarber has batted as the Cubs’ designated hitter only once. And he backed up why he insists he’s not a DH in the third inning — when he sped in from left to make a diving catch of Shogo Akiyama’s blooper to shallow left-center, robbing the Reds’ leadoff man of a hit.
“I know how people love to view me as a designated hitter, but I’m going to still go out there and play my best defense and make really good plays,” he said during summer training camp.
Trainer’s room
Third baseman Kris Bryant, who has struggled the first few games, was out of the lineup because of elbow soreness that bothers him when he extends swinging the bat.
Manager David Ross said he and Bryant are “not too concerned” about it, and his status is considered a day-to-day call. Bryant is 1-for-17 with eight strikeouts to start the season.
Other injury news out of Cincinnati included left-hander Quintana’s big next step as he tries to return from microsurgery on his left thumb: His first bullpen session, scheduled for Wednesday, since slicing the thumb on a broken glass washing dishes four weeks ago.
GLHOAT watch
With Bryant sidelined, Anthony Rizzo — who once declared himself the “greatest leadoff hitter of all-time” — moved up to the leadoff spot for the 59th time in his career.
He didn’t exactly back up his past proclamation on this night, going 1-for-5 with a ninth-inning single — albeit, that hit leading off the inning.
Rizzo’s career numbers as a leadoff hitter remain impressive: .332 with a .422 on-base percentage, 14 homers in 249 plate-appearances and a 1.014 OPS.