Lester allowed two runs, one earned, in seven innings on three hits in an eventual, marathon 5-4 loss to the Yankees in 18 innings at Wrigley Field, a setback that had manager Joe Maddon chastising his hitters in a manner that he usually doesn't.
The two teams combined for an Major League Baseball record 48 strikeouts in one game, besting the old mark of 43 set between the Angels and Athletics on July 9, 1971.
The game lasted 6 hours and five minutes - the longest in the 27-year history of Sunday night baseball and 21 minutes short of the Cubs & Wrigley Field record for time of game that was set on July 29, 2014 in a win over the Rockies. He moved to third on a sacrifice before scoring when Starlin Castro hit a grounder to shortstop Addison Russell, who threw wide of home.
The Yankees set franchise records for most strikeouts by batters (22) and pitchers (26), and the Cubs set a franchise record for most strikeouts by hitters (26).
The Cubs have played tough and high-profile series to start the season, including visits to St. Louis and Boston and home dates against the Dodgers and the red-hot Yankees.
Lester (1-1, 3.27 ERA) and Hendricks (2-1, 3.51) appear to be rounding into form after some rough patches, though Arrieta (4-1, 4.63) had struggled heading into Monday's start at Colorado. NY has some of the best come-from-behind wins in 2017, and there are probably plenty more to come. Edwin Diaz pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to post his sixth save.
What was left of the crowd also sung along when the Cubs showed a tape of Harry Caray singing "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" for the second seventh-inning stretch in the 14th. It's been five years since the team won a playoff game or more than 87 regular-season games.
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The victor then received a "Dream Ticket" that granted them front-of-the-line privileges at future " American Idol " auditions. It's worth noting, however, that despite the dimming of " Idol's " power, ABC could very much use the series on its schedule.
He was the one who came through. Gardner was more than excited running the bases after the go-ahead home run. The right-hander allowed one run and four hits in seven innings.
As for the pitching, Chicago brought the starters along slowly in spring training coming off the championship run. They're a bit less impressive in the 16th inning when teams are dying to scratch a single run across the plate. Galvis finished the day with three RBIs. Completing the sweep against the Cubs, regardless of how, is huge moving forward. His last shutout came on August 30, 2014, versus the Texas Rangers while he was a member of the Houston Astros.
Relievers Hector Rondon and Felix Pena did not pitch, so it might behoove starter Jake Arrieta to pitch deep Monday night.
Before Hicks scampered home with the winning run, the biggest highlight of extra innings belonged to Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber. The Cubs can change that with a hot streak, starting this week. De Jong (0-2, 11.05) didn't make it out of the third inning against the Indians, but he'll get another shot to prove himself in a game against Texas. The victory ended a three-game losing streak for the Marlins.
Held to one run in the first two games of a three-game series at PNC Park, Milwaukee broke out the bats in a win over Pittsburgh as Jesus Aguilar contributed an RBI double and a solo home run.
"I think it's a much better deal", San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said Sunday.
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