Quick takes: Cubs navigate new extra innings rule in win against Pirates

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The Cubs beat the Pirates 2-1 Sunday to sweep the three-game series.

After an hour rain delay, the Cubs got one more chance to settle the game before extra innings. But Javier Báez popped out in foul territory, and Willson Contreras struck out, Kyle Schwarber walked, and Steven Souza Jr. popped out to the shortstop.

For the first time under the new extra innings rule, the Cubs headed into extras. Here are takeaways from the game

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Extra innings excitement

Under the new 2020 rules, the team on offense begins each half inning after the ninth (or the seventh during doubleheaders) with a runner on second.

The Cubs got that extra runner out in the 10th with an on-target throw by Schwarber from left field and a strong tag by Contreras at home. The catcher held onto the ball through the collision.

Reliever Ryan Tepera got the next two batters, Adam Frazier and Kevin Newman, to line out and ground out, respectively.

Then, in the bottom half of the inning, the Cubs stranded two on base, extending the game to 11 innings.

Jeremy Jeffress took the mound next and got a ground ball to Báez. He easily threw out the automatic runner trying to advance to third. A fly ball to center field and a ground ball to second base later, Jeffress had retired the side.

Báez delivered the final blow, stinging a line drive up the middle for a walk-off RBI.

Electric slide

The throw was going to beat Contreras the plate, that much was clear. But as he barreled down the third base line, he had his experience behind the plate to lean on.

Contreras dove head first toward the front of the plate as Pirates catcher Jacob Stallings shuffled the opposite way to receive the throw. Stallings lunged forward to place the tag on Contreras, but as the two collided, Stallings lost the ball. Contreras was safe, tying the game 1-1 in the fifth inning.

Schwarber’s double to center field had driven Contreras home. He recorded his sixth RBI of the season, tied with Ian Happ and Báez for the most on the team.

Level-headed Lester

The first hit of the season off Lester was a solo home run in the first inning of Sunday’s game. Kevin Newman got the barrel of his bat on a cutter low and inside. He was the second batter Lester faced Sunday.

But then Lester made it through the next five innings without allowing a run. He wasn’t as dominant Saturday as he was in his first start of the season, but that was a high bar. Last week Lester pitched five no-hit innings.

On Sunday, he allowed just four hits in six innings. The first two were in the first inning, and three of the four were singles. He got better as the day went on, facing just one batter over the minimum (due to a fielding error by second baseman Nico Hoerner) from the fourth inning through the sixth.

Winkler steps up

Dan Winkler took the mound with two runners on and two out in the eighth inning. It was a tie ball game, with Pirates cleanup hitter Colin Moran stepping into the batter’s box.

Winkler got Moran to whiff on three straight pitches to get out of the inning.

Winkler remained on the mound the next inning too and preserved the tie just before the rain delay.

His performance under pressure redeemed himself after walking two and allowing a run in just 1/3 of an inning last week in Cincinnati.

Bryant remains out

Kris Bryant missed his second straight game after reporting an upset stomach on Saturday. As part of MLB’s health and safety protocols, he took a rapid response COVID-19 test Sunday. That and his regularly scheduled diagnostic test Friday both came back negative, Ross announced before the game.

“He just really needs to be commended for going in and getting checked out,” Ross said.

Bryant’s upset stomach was gone by Sunday, Ross said. He did not provide a date for Bryant’s return, saying that was up to MLB.

With Bryant out of the lineup, David Bote played third base and hit leadoff. Bote entered play Sunday leading all Cubs with at least 15 plate appearances in batting average (.357).  

Lineup shake up

For Sunday’s day game, a quick turnaround from the night before, Ross tinkered with the lineup and gave Jason Heyward, Ian Happ and Victor Caratini, the day off from stating

In their places, Steven Souza Jr. started in right field, Albert Almora Jr. in center and Josh Phegley at designated hitter.

Happ pinch hit for Phegley in the fifth inning and walked.

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