The Cubs beat the Giants 5-2 at Wrigley Field on Saturday in Game 2 of their National League Division Series.
Pitchers Kyle Hendricks and Travis Wood, who relieved Hendricks in the fourth inning when the starter left with an arm bruise, provided most of Chicago's offense. Hendricks drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the second inning, then Wood smacked a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth.
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Giants batters struggled again, with a two-run third inning their only offense so far this series. Madison Bumgarner will be back on the mound Monday in Game 3, but he needs at least one run to work with.
Three takeaways from the Cubs' victory:
1. The Cubs' catcher carousel is working just fine. In Game 1, Jon Lester had his favorite catcher, David Ross, behind the plate. It worked because the two were completely in sync. Ross, however, is 39 years old and can't play every day.
Enter Willson Contreras, the 24-year-old rookie who has as much potential behind the plate as he has displayed with his bat. Contreras collected two hits in Game 2 and helped manage the parade of relievers forced to enter the game early because of Hendricks' injury.
Chicago also has Miguel Montero, who has had the best career numbers of the three. Montero has battled injuries while with the Cubs but remains a steady presence. Expect him to start in the postseason, as well.
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2. Jeff Samardzija looked uncomfortable in his first postseason start. It didn't take long to realize Samardzija didn't have his best stuff Saturday. Giants manager Bruce Bochy must have come to the same conclusion because he pulled his starting pitcher after two innings — the shortest start of Samardzija's career.
The ex-Cubs pitcher gave up four runs on six hits. Though 33 of his 47 pitches went for strikes, he struggled locating his off-speed pitches. Samardzija was signed to be a suitable No. 3 starter behind aces Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto; however, he's a mercurial talent that has electric, yet inconsistent, stuff.
3. The Cubs need their young stars to heat up. With the exception of Javier Baez in Game 1 and Contreras on Saturday, the Cubs' bevy of young talent has struggled in the first two games. Anthony Rizzo, who went 0 for 4 with four runners left on base in Game 2, is 0 for 7 for the series. Chicago needs a lot out of him if it is to win it all.
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After a remarkable regular season, Kris Bryant has also been quiet in this series. He does have two hits and an RBI but hasn't looked quite as menacing at the plate. The Blue Jays and Dodgers have gotten ample production from their best hitters, and while the Cubs have better pitching, they need their big bats to heat up.
Highlight
Kyle Hendricks helped his cause:
With this hit, Hendricks became the first pitcher with a multi-RBI game in the postseason since Brett Myers drove in three for the Phillies against the Dodgers in Game 2 of 2008 NLCS.
What's next
NLDS Game 3: Cubs at Giants, 9:30 p.m. ET Monday, FS1 — This one could be a classic. Postseason phenom Madison Bumgarner will try to keep the Giants alive against Jake Arrieta and Chicago's young lineup. Bumgarner has put together some of his best playoff performances on the road, but we have a feeling he will do just fine at home, too.
This could also be called the "Pitchers who rake" matchup, as both Bumgarner and Arrieta can swing the bat.