Seiya Suzuki felt prepared.
Despite solely 15 plate appearances in 4 rehab video games with Triple-A Iowa — properly under the typical PAs in a typical spring coaching — he cleared all the necessities to return to proper area for the Chicago Cubs. Checked swings and whiffs didn’t trouble his indirect and he activated him from the injured checklist earlier than Friday’s sequence opener at Dodger Stadium. The Cubs optioned infielder/outfielder Miles Mastrobuoni to Iowa.
“I just want to make sure that I don’t want to bring any bad vibes in here,” Suzuki mentioned earlier than the sport via interpreter Toy Matsushita. “I want to make sure the team keeps on going and make sure we win a lot of games.”
Suzuki didn’t want to fret, no less than for one night time.
The good vibes remained Friday due to a all of a sudden home-run joyful Cubs lineup. They went deep 5 instances in an 8-2 victory in opposition to the Los Angeles Dodgers, together with back-to-back homers within the eighth by Ian Happ and Suzuki. Yan Gomes hit two dwelling runs as a part of a three-hit recreation for the catcher.
The Cubs (7-5) have gained six of their final eight video games.
“It’s a tremendous lineup and I want to do my part moving forward,” Suzuki mentioned. “I’m simply very excited for what we are able to do.
“Our ultimate goal is to win the championship and I think we have all the pieces to do that so I want to be a good piece in that plan.”
Slotting Suzuki within the No. 4 spot makes the Cubs lineup deeper and provides a dynamic hitter who ought to get ample run-producing alternatives. His presence can reduce strain on different hitters, and his command of the strike zone may also help them grind down the opposing beginning pitcher.
Cody Bellinger, in his first recreation again at Dodger Stadium, practically made it three consecutive dwelling runs for the Cubs within the eighth inning, however simply missed on a changeup he hit to the middle area warning monitor. Patrick Wisdom adopted for the Cubs’ third dwelling run of the inning. The outburst was properly timed; the Dodgers scored a run within the backside of the seventh to make it a one-run recreation.
The Cubs entered Friday with the fourth fewest dwelling runs (10) within the majors till they slugged 5 within the victory.
“I feel like our offense is really starting to find its groove, really starting to click so it’s always awesome to see the ball leave the yard when it’s on our side,” mentioned Justin Steele, who allowed two runs in seven innings for his third straight high quality begin.
“It’s a lot of fun to watch. I feel like as a team we’re just picking each other up when we’re supposed to.”
Bellinger, who doubled and scored on Eric Hosmer’s floor out to first within the fourth inning, obtained a video tribute earlier than the sport and prolonged cheers previous to stepping within the field for his first at-bat. That delay brought on him to be charged with an computerized strike on account of a pitch clock violation known as by dwelling plate umpire Jim Wolf. Umpires have discretion to cease or restart the clock at any level, however Wolf apparently the state of affairs didn’t warrant any flexibility inside the necessities that the hitter be prepared and searching on the pitcher with no less than eight seconds remaining.
Manager David Ross wasn’t joyful Bellinger was dinged for a violation.
“We’ve got to find those moments where you’re giving some love to players that the fan base wants to appreciate them. Umpires get in the mode of doing their job and I understand that, but that wasn’t my favorite thing of the night.”
Bellinger was shocked he was known as for the violation, however “rules are rules, I guess.” With a smile on his face, Bellinger mentioned he plans to have a phrase with Wolf about it earlier than Saturday’s recreation. The second didn’t take away from the 2019 National League MVP’s return to Los Angeles. Bellinger turned very emotional watching the tribute video due to the reminiscences it sparked.
Bellinger tried to take all of it in. Pulling a double to proper area actually felt good too.
“I feel really confident — physically, mentally, I feel solid as I have in a while so it’s exciting,” he mentioned. “Life isn’t all the time deliberate as everyone knows as we get older that God works in mysterious methods. I simply attempt to keep within the second and recognize it.”
Getting Suzuki again because the Cubs kick off a six-game West Coast journey offers the lineup a lift as they attempt to navigate a troublesome stretch of their schedule. Pitching and protection was anticipated to be a energy and set the tone, so how this season seems may finally rely on how the Cubs lineup can reply, discover methods to attain in bunches and tack on runs like they did within the eighth and ninth innings Friday.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com