May 18, 2017

Chicago Sun-Times, Kyle Hendricks returns to ERA-crown form as Cubs beat Reds http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/kyle-hendricks-returns-to-era-crown-form-as-cubs-beat-reds/

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs call up Pierce Johnson, first pitcher drafted by Theo for Cubs http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-call-up-pierce-johnson-first-pitcher-drafted-by-theo-for-cubs/

Chicago Sun-Times, Wheaton man dies after falling over Wrigley Field railing http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/wheaton-man-dies-after-falling-over-wrigley-field-railing/

Daily Herald, Happ, Chicago Cubs showing their versatility http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170517/happ-chicago-cubs-showing-their-versatility

Daily Herald, Cubs' Schwarber breaks part of Budweiser sign in batting practice http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170517/cubsx2019-schwarber-breaks-part-of-budweiser-sign-in-batting-practice

Daily Herald, Imrem: New rules have made baseball even softer http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170517/imrem-new-rules-have-made-baseball-even-softer

Cubs.com, At his best at home, Lester starts vs. Reds http://atmlb.com/2qv7W0O

Cubs.com, Cubs ride 5-run 2nd to win over reeling Reds http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/230835772/cubs-ride-5-run-2nd-to-win-over-reeling-reds/

Cubs.com, Hendricks shows flashes of 2016 form http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/230944058/kyle-hendricks-encouraged-by-start-vs-reds/

Cubs.com, Schwarber launches 'Neighborhood Heroes' http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/230834464/kyle-schwarber-launches-neighborhood-heroes/

Cubs.com, Fan passes away following fall at Wrigley http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/230942054/cubs-fan-dies-after-fall-at-wrigley-field/

ESPNChicago.com, It's time to believe in Kyle Schwarber and the Cubs' offense http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/44205/its-time-to-buy-low-on-kyle-schwarber-and-the-cubs-offense

ESPNChicago.com, The Professor is back: Cubs' Kyle Hendricks recapturing championship form http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/44213/the-professor-is-back-cubs-kyle-hendricks-recapturing-championship-form

CSNChicago.com, Kyle Schwarber Damages Wrigley Video Board As Order Is Restored In Cubs Universe http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/kyle-schwarber-damages-wrigley-video-board-order-restored-cubs-universe

CSNChicago.com, Jason McLeod Goes Inside The Ian Happ/Andrew Benintendi Draft http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/jason-mcleod-goes-inside-ian-happandrew-benintendi-draft

CSNChicago.com, Cubs Add Pierce Johnson To Bullpen And Send Jeimer Candelario Back To Triple-A Iowa http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/cubs-add-pierce-johnson-bullpen-and-send-jeimer-candelario-back-triple-iowa

Chicago Tribune, Cubs' surprise call-up Ian Happ proving he belongs in big leagues http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-cubs-sullivan-spt-0518-20170517-column.html

Chicago Tribune, Ben Zobrist collects two hits in return to a Cubs' lineup that could be under more evaluation http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-reds-spt-0518-20170517-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Reds manager Bryan Price steamed after call reversal http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-reds-bryan-price-call-reversal-20170517-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Albert Almora Jr. humbled by Jackie Robinson's history at Wrigley Field http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-albert-almora-jr-jackie-robinson-wrigley-20170518-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs' Kyle Hendricks steering toward 2016 form http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-kyle-hendricks-20170517-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs fan dies after falling over railing at Wrigley: 'He was a great guy, everyone loved him' http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-man-dies-wrigley-fall-railing-20170517-story.html

-- Chicago Sun-Times Kyle Hendricks returns to ERA-crown form as Cubs beat Reds By Gordon Wittenmyer Is Kyle Hendricks the Cubs’ ace? Come on. Of course, he is. Hendricks is the first starter to right himself and hit the kind of commanding stride the team has desperately needed. “That was classic Kyle right there,” manager Joe Maddon said after Hendricks stymied the Reds for much of six innings for a 7-5 victory at Wrigley Field that assured the Cubs’ first series victory in two weeks. Hendricks (3-2) doesn’t throw nearly as hard as the others in the rotation. He doesn’t get the rope to often push past the 100-pitch or six-inning mark (see: Game 7, Nov. 2). He doesn’t have Jake Arrieta’s Cy Young Award, Jon Lester’s four All-Star appearances or John Lackey’s growl. But what the right-hander from Dartmouth can do with an 86-mph fastball and a plan could quickly become the most important thing the Cubs have going for them as they try to resemble a playoff team again. Already on a four-start roll heading into Wednesday night, the slight Hendricks took the mound looking more like a threat to get knocked over by the 24-mph wind gusting toward left than a threat to shut down one of the top slugging teams in the league.

But using a fastball that rarely reached 87 mph, a changeup 7 or 8 mph slower and a healthy fear of the middle of the strike zone, last year’s major-league ERA leader (2.13) turned in a second consecutive quality start in adverse conditions (also last week at Coors Field). “Much closer [to 2016 finishing form],” said Hendricks, who has a 1.82 ERA in his last five starts. “This game was one of my better ones for sure, too, just because I got stronger in the later innings. My last three innings felt much better, much more under control.” Pitching coach Chris Bosio, who returned from a brief personal leave, helped with a mid-start cue from the bench, said Hendricks, who started pitching harder inside as the game went on and retired nine of 10 in his final three innings. “I just saw they were trying to dive out a little bit with that wind today,” he said. He allowed two runs to the Reds — and only that many because of a pickoff play his infielders botched in the first inning. After Billy Hamilton’s single leading off the game, Hendricks had the speedy Hamilton picked off. First baseman Anthony Rizzo threw to shortstop Addison Russell, then got caught flat-footed on the throw back from Russell and missed the tag as Hamilton slid back into first. Hamilton then stole second and scored on Zack Cozart’s single. Cozart later added a solo homer in the third, the only mistake pitch of the start. To put his outing in perspective, as soon as he left the game, Mike Montgomery got tagged for three runs in the seventh — ending his streak of consecutive scoreless innings at 18. Two scored after Montgomery was replaced by Pedro Strop, who gave up a two-run double to Eugenio Suarez. A stadium worker removes a piece of Kris Bryant’s broken bat from the backstop after it stuck there in the first inning. To be fair, Lester has had some of the best stuff among the starters since the start of the season. Lackey has been especially sharp in his last two starts. And Arrieta looked better the last time out in particular. “They’re all trending in the right direction,” Maddon said. “But what you saw tonight is what Kyle’s supposed to look like, and that’s very encouraging moving forward.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs call up Pierce Johnson, first pitcher drafted by Theo for Cubs By Gordon Wittenmyer Still struggling to break from a mediocre start — and trying to make sure they have enough pitching for hitter-friendly conditions this week at Wrigley Field — the Cubs called up right-hander Pierce Johnson on Wednesday from Class AAA Iowa. Johnson, the first pitcher drafted by the Cubs under team president Theo Epstein, boosts the bullpen back to eight relievers and reduces the bench strength to four hitters. The decision was made with Ben Zobrist’s return to the lineup in mind. The Cubs waited until Zobrist — sidelined for three games by recurring back pain — handled his pregame work without issue before making the move. To make room, rookie infielder Jeimer Candelario was optioned back to Iowa, eight days after he had joined the club.

Johnson, the 43rd selection of the 2012 draft, had mixed results as a starter, including persistent command problems, and was converted to a reliever last season. He is 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA in 12 appearances this season, including 21 strikeouts and 11 walks in 14 innings. Felix Pena, the right-hander who had pitched well before being sent down last week to make room for an extra position player, was not eligible to be recalled because he had not spent at least 10 days in the minors. Schwarber does damage During batting practice, struggling leadoff man Kyle Schwarber hit a home run so hard and far to right field, it hit the Budweiser sign atop the video board, knocking out lights on the first three letters. “Had some wind behind it, I guess, and it got up there, and you could see some wires fall. So I apologize in advance,’’ said Schwarber, who once hit a ball on top of the same video board during the 2015 playoffs. “I hope I don’t get a bill.’’ The Jet set Of all the congratulatory texts and calls manager Joe Maddon received after earning his 1,000th managerial victory Tuesday night, the one from childhood hero Joe Namath resonated. “As a young football player, I wore No. 12 and I wore white shoes because of this guy,” said Maddon, whose nickname as a high school quarterback in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, was “Broad Street Joe.” “It’s pretty cool,” added Maddon, who befriended Namath years ago after becoming the Rays’ manager. On the other hand, Maddon was asked if any current or former managers reached out. “No,” he said with a laugh. “I’m just not well-liked. I’m not well-received.” This and that The Cubs announced after the game that outfielder Jason Heyward will go to Class A South Bend on Thursday for a rehab assignment that likely will last one day. That could mean a return from the DL on Friday.

◆ Coinciding with the 1,000th win, Maddon’s Respect 90 foundation donated 1,000 free meals each to the Sallie

House in St. Petersburg, Florida, and the Evangeline Booth Lodge in Chicago for the homeless.

◆ With his third-inning solo shot, Reds shortstop Zack Cozart became the first visiting player since Carlos Beltran

in 2004 to homer in five consecutive games at Wrigley Field.

◆ Left-hander Brett Anderson (back) played catch on the field the last two days as he builds up for his first bullpen

session since going on the disabled list May 6. The team is expected to take a cautious approach with his rehab work and subsequent minor-league rehab assignment. -- Chicago Sun-Times Wheaton man dies after falling over Wrigley Field railing By Mitchell Armentrout A west suburban man died a day after falling over a railing while leaving Wrigley Field after Tuesday night’s game.

About 11 p.m., Richard E. Garrity fell over a railing onto his head at the iconic ballpark at 1060 W. Addison St., according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. The 42-year-old Wheaton resident was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he died at 3:33 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said. The plunge happened about 45 minutes after the end of the Chicago Cubs’ 9-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. The fan was on his way out of the park when he fell, according to a statement from the team. “The thoughts and prayers of our entire organization are with his family during this difficult time,” the statement said. A source said the man fell over a railing down the right field line behind the seating bowl. An autopsy was scheduled for Thursday. Area North detectives were conducting a death investigation. -- Daily Herald Happ, Chicago Cubs showing their versatility By Bruce Miles Ian Happ could find himself the next Chicago Cubs player to stock his locker with multiple gloves. Happ, the rookie called up over the weekend, started Wednesday night's 7-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in center field. Since coming up, Happ also has started in right field and has played left. At Class AAA Iowa, Happ also played second base. "He definitely was making some great strides with that," manager Joe Maddon said. "He was doing a nice job in the minor leagues. I'm just seeing an interesting, all-over-the-map kind of a guy. As long as he can handle it mentally, not unlike KB (Kris Bryant). "You've got these young guys that are really good, that are willing to this. And now is the time to do it with them. If you wait a couple years and ask them to start moving around, that's when it becomes more difficult. "But when you're doing it young and it's a part of their landscape, it becomes somewhat easier. And it's good. It's good for them. It's good for us." Maddon added that he is "willing to see him at second, but I don't think we have to right now." It's also possible Happ could play the corner-infield spots, if need be. When he came up, Happ said he was happy to do it all. "I think that was one of the big things for me in Triple-A, was to finally to play more of that style, where you start at second, go to right, start in left, go to second, do a bunch of that and kind of bounce around and play some center, too," he said. "I think that was a great experience for me. Comfortable in all the outfield spots and second base, too." With his power and good eye at the plate, Happ does not appear to be going anywhere soon. If he stays, he likely will join Bryant, Ben Zobrist and Javier Baez as guys who can thrive on versatility. Bryant, for all his early stardom, has never balked at being that guy. "He likes it," Maddon said. "Like last year, getting all this feedback like it's going to impede him from being this or being (that). I heard it for two years. Rookie of the Year and MVP, that's not being impeded. I think there's a freshness about it when you have confidence you can do it."

In Wednesday's game, the Cubs scored 5 runs against Scott Feldman in the second inning and chased him with 2 more in the third. Kyle Schwarber had a 2-run single in the second. Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks worked 6 innings, giving up 6 hits and 2 runs. Maddon called the performance "classic Kyle Hendricks." Hendricks said his old form might be back. He improved to 3-2 with a 3.35 ERA. "Much closer," he said. "That game was one of my better ones, too, because I got stronger in those later innings." -- Daily Herald Cubs' Schwarber breaks part of Budweiser sign in batting practice By Bruce Miles Kyle Schwarber owns the right-field videoboard at Wrigley Field. If he keeps on hitting it and breaking things, the Cubs may make him pay for it and allow him to take it home with him. During batting practice before Wednesday night's 7-5 victory over the Reds, Schwarber hit the Budweiser sign on top of the board, knocking out the lights in the "Bud" portion. In the 2015 National League division series against the Cardinals, Schwarber hit a home run that landed on top of the board. "I had some wind behind it, I guess, and it got up there, " he said after the Cubs' 7-5 victory. "You could see some wires fall. I apologize in advance." There was no apologizing for a 2-run single in the Cubs' 5-run second inning. Despite a .188 batting average, Schwarber has begun hitting the ball hard. He had a booming home run Tuesday night. "We did a really good job tonight, having really good at-bats and hitting balls hard," he said. Russell works on it: Shortstop Addison Russell was out Wednesday to take early batting practice with hitting coach John Mallee. Russell entered the evening's game against the Reds with a hitting line of .226/.293/.372. He hit his third homer of the season Tuesday night. It went to the opposite field, in right-center. "Really just kind of toning down my movements as far as hitting, making small movements," Russell said. "As far as adjusting, there's really not that much adjusting I have to do. Just making movements smaller. "It's just like the leg kick and movement of the arms and head, just making those movements smaller so I can track the ball a little bit easier." Cubs call up pitcher: The Cubs called up pitcher Pierce Johnson from Class AAA Iowa and optioned infielder Jeimer Candelario back to Iowa. Johnson is looking to make his major-league debut. The 26-year-old right-hander originally was drafted by the Cubs in the compensation round (43rd pick overall) in 2012. He has gone 28-19 with 4 saves and a 3.10 ERA in 99 career minor league games. At Iowa this year, he was 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA in 12 games, with 21 strikeouts in 14 innings. Injury updates:

The Cubs will send outfielder Jason Heyward on a minor league rehab assignment to Class A South Bend Thursday as he is close to coming off the disabled list. Heyward is recovering from a sprained right index finger. Left-handed pitcher Brett Anderson, who is on the DL with a back injury, played catch for a second time Wednesday. The Cubs say he is working toward a bullpen session. A grand gesture: To commemorate reaching 1,000 wins as a manager Tuesday, Joe Maddon will donate 1,000 meals to the Salvation Army Evangeline Booth Lodge at 800 W. Lawrence Avenue in Chicago. Maddon, through his Respect 90 foundation, will make the same donation to the Sallie House in St. Petersburg, Florida. Maddon managed the Tampa Bay Rays before coming to the Cubs. Maddon said he heard from former NFL quarterback Joe Namath via text message about the 1,000th win. -- Daily Herald Imrem: New rules have made baseball even softer By Mike Imrem It was just another throwaway line in a 162-game baseball season full of them. Chicago Cubs pitcher Jon Lester basically said recently that with the new rules baseball has become soft. So what else is new? Isn't that like saying the Vatican is full of Catholics? Don't hockey players already refer to baseball players as the softies of summer? Baseball always has been the kinder, gentler sport compared to football, hockey and even basketball. That's the charm. The game is more about skill than power, even if chicks do still dig the longball. Lester's remark came last weekend after Cubs manager Joe Maddon objected to Ian Happ being called for an improper slide at St. Louis. The dust has had a few days to settle over the controversy, giving us ample time to take a clear look at the issue. The conclusion is, "You go, Joe!" Along with, "You, too, Jonny!" Maddon proceeded to propose -- sarcastically or seriously -- rule changes for the safety of players. A couple of the suggestions sounded reasonable, like protecting batters in the on-deck circle, while others seemed playful. Back to Happ: The rookie's oversliding of second base to disrupt the pivot man's attempt to execute a double-play relay resulted in an automatic double play. Even with no throw the runner at first base was out by rule. The rule is dumb. Turning any professional team sport into patty-cake/kissy-face is dumb. Baserunners have been menacing middle infielders for a century and only a few of either have wound up in traction. Is it evil to miss the good old days of way back a couple of years when a baserunner could slide hard into a shortstop? To miss ballpark-rattling collisions at home plate between locomotive runners and mountainside catchers? To miss bench-clearning brawls after pitchers throw beanballs at batters?

OK, scratch beanballs. The head is off limits. Concussions and their long-term impact on athletes are serious business. To me, though, all body parts below the brain are fair game. Physical jeopardy is a part of sports. It's one of their appealing aspects. Otherwise they all might as well be chess. Cerebral competition does have a place. Spelling bees, geography bees, sports writing bees … all are fun until a journalist pulls a muscle on the way to the postgame pizza. Big-time pro athletes who make tens of millions of dollars should be required to put their bodies at risk as well as their minds to work. Even placing concussions aside, the NFL had to and still has to institute rules that protect players from each other and in some cases from themselves. The thing about football, though, is that they can pass all the rules they want and bones still will break and ligaments still will tear. Hockey always will be risky even if goons are outlawed. So will basketball as long as 6-footers challenge 7-footers at the hoop. By comparison, yes, baseball is a game played by softies. It was back when a baserunner could barrel into second base to prevent a double play and an irresistible force could collide with an immovable object at the plate. Now, Jon Lester is correct: Subtracting physical duress from baseball makes it even softer. Bad idea I say from behind the safety of my computer. -- Cubs.com At his best at home, Lester starts vs. Reds By Mark Sheldon It may seem odd, but the Reds' most consistent starter this season -- rookie Amir Garrett -- will return from a brief demotion to Triple-A to face the Cubs and ace Jon Lester in Thursday's series finale at Wrigley Field. Because of two off-days within five days -- which temporarily eliminated the need for five starters -- and the organization's desire to limit Garrett's innings, the Reds sent him to Louisville following his May 6 start vs. the Giants. Garrett had quality starts in five of his six outings (36 innings), with 22 hits, 14 walks, 28 strikeouts and a 4.25 ERA. "Really, you don't even have to make an argument that he was our best pitcher when he left here," manager Bryan Price said. "He gave us a chance to win five out of six times." While he was away, Garrett threw two bullpen sessions and made one two-inning start, and struck out all six batters he faced. Lester is coming off one of his better starts of the season, having tied a season high with nine strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings against the Cardinals on Saturday. But he took a 5-3 loss, with four runs (three earned) on six hits and four walks.

In his previous start vs. the Reds this season, on April 21 at Great American Ball Park, Lester allowed five earned runs and nine hits over 5 2/3 innings. He is 3-1 with a 3.72 ERA lifetime vs. Cincinnati in 10 starts. Lester has a 1.44 ERA in four home starts this season, compared with a 5.73 ERA in his four road starts. Three things to know about this game • The Reds are 9-1 when they do not allow a homer, second best in the Majors. The Rockies are first, at 13-0. • Lester throws his changeup only about 9 percent of the time, but he has gotten 18.4 percent of his strikeouts with the pitch this season, up from 6.6 percent in 2016. That would be his highest rate since at least 2008. • The Cubs will commemorate the 70th anniversary of Jackie Robinson playing his first game at Wrigley Field. That game, on May 18, 1947, drew a paid crowd of 46,572, which remains the largest paid regular-season crowd in ballpark history. Robinson's granddaughter, Meta Robinson, will help raise a new flag honoring his legacy on the right-field foul pole. The team had previously flown a "JR 42" flag on Wrigley Field's rooftop following the retirement of Robinson's No. 42 by Major League Baseball in 1997. -- Cubs.com Cubs ride 5-run 2nd to win over reeling Reds By Carrie Muskat and Mark Sheldon CHICAGO -- On Wednesday night, the Cubs didn't need to take advantage of the hitter-friendly 24-mph south wind at Wrigley Field. Kyle Schwarber and Anthony Rizzo each hit two-run singles to spark a five-run second inning and lift the Cubs to a 7-5 victory over the Reds, who lost their fifth straight, although not without a fight. "No home runs, even though the wind was blowing out that hard, but we were able to push a lot of runs right there and it was good," Schwarber said. Kyle Hendricks finally won at home, doing so in his fifth start at Wrigley. The right-hander, who won nine of his 15 starts at home last season, scattered six hits over six innings. He helped himself with a perfectly executed squeeze bunt in the third to drive in Ben Zobrist, who had doubled and moved up on a fielding error by Adam Duvall. "[Hendricks] knew that he was right tonight, and that's a great game to build off of," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "The wind was blowing out a gale, and pitching as well as he did, there's a lot of confidence to be derived from that." Reds starter Scott Feldman, making his first career start against his former team, exited after throwing 80 pitches over 2 2/3 innings. The right-hander was coming off two quality starts, including a complete game. This is the fifth time in nine games he could not go past five innings. Abbreviated outings aren't helping the Reds, whose rotation ranks last in the National League in innings pitched and ERA. In the last five games, Reds starters have served up 20 runs over 23 2/3 innings. "I just didn't execute on pitches today," Feldman said. "When you're facing any lineup, but especially a lineup with some pretty good hitters like the Cubs have, you have to be able to hit your spots and make pitches. I just didn't do that today. I dug us in a hole, and the guys battled back and made a game of it. It was not an ideal way to start the game out." Despite getting a three-run seventh inning to close the gap amid stellar bullpen work, the Reds are mired in a season-high five-game losing streak, their first such losing streak since dropping five in a row last Sept. 4-8. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Speed racer: After Reds speedster Billy Hamilton singled to lead off the game, the Cubs thought they had him in a rundown between first and second, but Hamilton was too quick and deftly slid under the tag by first baseman Rizzo. Hamilton then stole second and scored on Zack Cozart's single. Hendricks did get Hamilton in the second, striking him out to end the inning and strand two runners. "You have to try to keep [Hamilton] off the bases as much as you can," Hendricks said. "When he gets on there, he'll steal second, steal third at the drop of the hat. You have to pay attention over there." Second-inning spurt: The Cubs sent 10 batters to the plate in the second. Rookie Ian Happ walked to open the inning, and he reached third on Zobrist's single before scoring on a fielder's choice by Addison Russell. Miguel Montero walked, and one out later, Jon Jay was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Schwarber, who lined a single down the right-field line, driving in two. Kris Bryant walked to load the bases again, and Rizzo drove in two more runs with a hard-hit single to right for a 5-1 lead. QUOTABLE "[The bullpen] really was spectacular and [gave] us a chance to get back in that ballgame. But not enough. We've been down in these games; these last three games that we've lost, we've been down early. You can't ask the guys to continue to bounce back and pull yourself out of four- or five- or six-run holes. That's just not the way you're going to win games." -- Reds manager Bryan Price, after his bullpen gave up one hit over 5 1/3 scoreless innings following Feldman's departure SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Cozart led off the Reds' third with his fourth home run; he is the first visiting player to homer in five consecutive games at Wrigley Field since Carlos Beltran did so in 2004. Duvall's RBI single with two outs in the Reds' seventh ended Cubs reliever Mike Montgomery's streak of scoreless innings at 18. Cincinnati added two runs that inning on Eugenio Suarez's double. UNDER REVIEW With two outs in the Reds ninth, Russell grabbed a Votto grounder on the grass. Votto was called out after Rizzo had to do a split to catch Russell's throw, but the Cubs challenged the ruling. Following a review, the call was overturned, and the game was over. "We should have a definitive shot of how they could overturn that, and we don't," Price said. "At this point in time, all we have is a call into the league, and they will or will not come up with a shot that's going to convince us they made the right decision. Right now, in the moment. Maybe they will, maybe they do. Maybe they have it. I'd sleep better if I knew they had a definitive shot of that." Maddon said it was "awkward" to end the game with a call being reviewed. "I thought there was one angle that they showed on the board that indicated [Rizzo] was on the bag," Maddon said. "The others were not so encouraging. I've learned already from calls that have gone against us that they have a different look in New York and see it in an even more high-def situation and blow it up. Fortunately, it went our way." A BIT OF THE BIZARRE The biggest drama in the game involved Bryant's broken bat, which got stuck in the netting behind home plate above the Cubs' on-deck circle after his at-bat in the first inning. The bat wouldn't budge when security tried to shake it loose and even threw a ball at it. After the second inning, four staffers used a 20-foot ladder to reach the bat and dislodge it.

"It scared me when they took it down," Montero said. "Everybody's down there holding the ladder, and they threw [the bat] out. What if the bat poked [one of the men] in the face or the eyes or something like that? That scared me the most." WHAT'S NEXT Reds: Lefty Amir Garrett will be recalled from Triple-A Louisville to start Thursday's 2:20 p.m. ET series finale at Wrigley Field. Garrett, who went 3-2 with a 4.25 ERA with five quality starts in six games in the Majors, was sent down to limit his innings. In one two-inning start at Louisville on Friday, he struck out all six batters he faced. Cubs: Lefty Jon Lester will close the series against the Reds on Thursday. In his previous start, against the Cardinals, he tied a season high with nine strikeouts but took the loss. He has a 1.44 ERA in four home starts, compared with a 5.73 ERA in four road starts. First pitch is scheduled for 1:20 p.m. CT from Wrigley Field. -- Cubs.com Hendricks shows flashes of 2016 form By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- The Cubs aren't expecting right-hander Kyle Hendricks to lead the Major Leagues in ERA, as he did last season, but his outing on Wednesday night was encouraging, because he looked more like the 2016 version than he had in previous starts. Hendricks picked up his first win at home in his fifth start at Wrigley Field, holding the Reds to six hits over six innings in a 7-5 victory. "That was classic Kyle right there," manager Joe Maddon said. "The velocity was up, you saw the bad takes, the bad swings, the contact wasn't as hard. I talked to him after, and he was really excited. He knew that he was right tonight, and that's a great game to build off of. Wind blowing out a gale and pitching as well as he did, there's a lot of confidence to be derived from that." Wait. Hendricks was excited? He's pretty low-key. "He smiled," Maddon said. "We shook hands. He nodded. I believe there was a slight chuckle involved." In his last five starts, Hendricks is 2-1 with a 1.82 ERA, giving up six earned runs over 29 2/3 innings. That includes a start in Colorado and Wednesday's game, during which the wind favored hitters, blowing out of the south at 24 mph. "What you saw tonight was what Kyle is supposed to look like, and that's very encouraging moving forward," Maddon said. "That game was one of my better ones for sure, because I got stronger," said Hendricks, who threw a season-high 107 pitches. "My last three innings felt much better, much more under control. When [pitching coach Chris Bosio] came back on the bench, he gave me a good cue and got my tempo going. Getting stronger as the game goes on is always a good sign." Catcher Miguel Montero also suggested that Hendricks work more inside to Reds batters. "The only bad pitch I made was to [Zack] Cozart, the homer pitch," Hendricks said of a changeup to the Cincinnati shortstop leading off the Reds third. "I pitched in pretty well after that. I saw they were trying to dive out a little bit with that wind." Cozart wasn't sure if Hendricks missed a spot with his pitch, but he did leave it up.

"If you hit a fly ball in this wind, it's going to go," Cozart said. "I knew when I hit it, I was like, 'It's got a good chance,' even though I didn't hit it great. He just left it over the plate." Hendricks' last two outings have perked up his confidence. "It shows me my focus is in the right place. It's on making good pitches, no matter what the factors are that given day," Hendricks said. "That's when I'm good, when I have my focus on to the next pitch. ... I have to stay there, and hopefully, my fastball command keeps going like this." Hendricks finished third in the National League Cy Young voting last year, posting a 2.13 ERA and 16-8 record. He's trending in the right direction. "To repeat a year that he had last year is tough," Montero said. "He set the bar really high. We don't expect anything less than that, but it's hard to repeat that season. We have to be realistic. He's doing a great job now, and as long as he keeps us in the game and gives us an opportunity to win, that's the whole idea." -- Cubs.com Schwarber launches 'Neighborhood Heroes' By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Kyle Schwarber's father is a police chief, his mother is a nurse and his sister is in the National Guard. On Wednesday he launched "Neighborhood Heroes," a campaign designed to recognize first responders and honor their heroism, courage and devotion to duty. Schwarber invited police officers from the Chicago Police Merit Awards, firefighters from Engine 78 (which is located across Waveland Avenue from Wrigley Field) and veterans from a group called Mission Continues. "I just wanted to do something special for you guys -- you deserve it," Schwarber told the group. Don Meeks, commander of VFW Post 2024 on the south side of Chicago, was one of the 45 invited to Wrigley. "This is encouraging," said Meeks, who spent 21 years in the Navy and served in Vietnam. "To come to 2017, and have a player like Mr. Schwarber reach out to the veterans, it means a lot." • The Cubs added an arm to the bullpen on Wednesday, recalling right-hander Pierce Johnson from Triple-A Iowa. Johnson, who was selected 43rd overall in the 2012 Draft, went 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA in 12 outings with Iowa this season, striking out 21 over 14 innings. To make room for him on the roster, infielder Jeimer Candelario was optioned to Iowa. Candelario went 3-for-21 in six big league games with the Cubs. The move gives the Cubs eight relievers. • Although fans most likely enjoyed Ian Happ's first home run at Wrigley Field on Tuesday night, Cubs manager Joe Maddon was more pleased with Happ's bases-loaded walk in the sixth inning. The Reds had intentionally walked Anthony Rizzo to load the bases and face Happ; Maddon said the natural expectation was that the rookie would have expanded the strike zone, but he didn't, and he collected an RBI in the 9-5 win. "[The walk] was much more impressive to me than the home run," Maddon said. "If he can maintain that level of poise, there's no telling what he can do." Though Happ has played second base and the outfield, Maddon doesn't feel the need to see Happ at second. So far he's started in right and center field. "He definitely was making great strides [playing second]," Maddon said. "What I'm seeing right now is an interesting all-over-the-map kind of guy. As long as he can handle it mentally -- not unlike [Kris Bryant]. Now's the

time to do it. If you wait a couple years and ask them to start moving around, that's when it becomes more difficult. When you do it when they're young, it becomes part of their landscape." • Brett Anderson, on the disabled list with a strained back, played catch for the second day on Tuesday. He is working toward throwing a bullpen session. Jason Heyward, on the DL with a sprained right index finger, is to begin a rehab assignment at Class A South Bend on Thursday. Maddon said that Heyward did well in batting practice on Wednesday and that they'll re-evaluate Heyward after he plays on Thursday. "He'll know post-game if he's ready to come back, [or if he wants] one more game," Maddon said. • If Schwarber's 462-foot home run on Tuesday was the longest of his career, what were the previous long-distance bombs? Here's the next four, from Statcast™: 1. 459 ft., Oct. 17, 2015, NLCS Game 1, at New York 2. 448 ft., Sept. 11, 2015, at Philadelphia 3. 434 ft., Aug. 13, 2015, vs. Milwaukee 4. 432 ft., Sept. 1, 2015, vs. Cincinnati For those of you who are curious, the home run Schwarber sent to the top of the video scoreboard in Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Oct. 13, 2015, was measured at 419 feet. • After picking up his 1,000th career win on Tuesday night, Maddon received numerous text messages, including one from Joe Namath, whom he met in Spring Training while with the Rays. To commemorate the milestone, Maddon's Respect 90 Foundation will donate 1,000 meals to homeless children and families at both the Salvation Army Evangeline Booth Lodge in Chicago and Sallie House in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Salvation Army Evangeline Booth Lodge is a haven for families that are homeless because of eviction, disasters, domestic violence or other crises. Also under the direction of the Salvation Army, Sallie House is a safe haven for children, infants to 17, who have been removed from their homes because of abuse, neglect or abandonment. -- Cubs.com Fan passes away following fall at Wrigley By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- A Wheaton, Ill., man died on Wednesday, one day after falling over a railing at Wrigley Field following Tuesday night's Reds-Cubs game. Richard E. Garrity, 42, fell from an undisclosed height and landed on his head while leaving the ballpark at around 11 p.m. CT Tuesday. He was pronounced dead at 3:33 p.m. on Wednesday at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. "Following yesterday's game, a male fan was injured after a fall as he was exiting the ballpark," the Cubs said in a statement late Wednesday. "Paramedics responded immediately and transported him to a local hospital. We have since learned he passed away today, though we have no further information. The thoughts and prayers of our entire organization are with his family during this difficult time." A marketing manager, Garrity was attending the game as part of a work outing with colleagues. --

ESPNChicago.com It's time to believe in Kyle Schwarber and the Cubs' offense By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- How would you like to have a hitter who has reached base in every game he has started since May 2? What about a batter who has walked more than anyone on the squad and is one home run from the team lead? You might be surprised to learn that those labels apply to Kyle Schwarber. The signs that the Chicago Cubs left fielder is heating up have been there, though few outside the team have been paying attention. The situation prompted team president Theo Epstein to utter one of the best lines of the year. "If anyone wants to sell their Kyle Schwarber stock, we're buying," Epstein declared before the homestand began Tuesday. Considering Epstein's track record, it might not be a bad idea to listen when he gives stock tips. Players who are struggling mightily don't reach base in 11 straight starts, as Schwarber has done. Yes, a lot of those jogs to first came via walks, but the leadoff hitter getting on base is exactly what a struggling lineup needs. "Almost none of these guys are hitting up to their potential, and we're still OK," manager Joe Maddon said recently. "When they do, we'll really take off." There's no denying that the offense hasn't taken off the way it did early last season. According to ESPN Stats & Information, through May 17 last year, the Cubs were averaging 5.9 runs per contest; this year, they're averaging 4.82. Their OPS was fourth in all of baseball on May 17, 2016; now it's 13th. While all of this has contributed to a record hovering around the .500 mark, one statistic remains the same: walks. The Cubs lead the National League in that category, just as they did all of last season, and they firmly believe that those baserunners will turn into more runs once some more hits start falling. "It's not going to last, at all," Epstein said of the Cubs' hitting slump. "What it tells me is we're going to have five or six guys get hot at the same time." That includes Schwarber, who is hitting .188 but still deserves a thank you from anyone who bats behind him. He has taken much of the abuse, yet veteran players who were healthy all of last season -- not just for a handful of games, as in Schwarber's case -- are struggling too. Did you know that Anthony Rizzo is hitting .221? Or that Javier Baez is batting .228? Ben Zobrist and Addison Russell haven't lit up the scoreboard, either, but the scrutiny has been on Schwarber and his adjustment to the leadoff role. "It's coming," Maddon said over the weekend in St. Louis. "He's not far from breaking out. I like how it looks." There's a saying that Maddon often repeats: If you're walking, you're hitting. The Cubs thrive when players are accepting their walks. That's when pitchers start throwing them strikes, and eventually the mistakes will be hit. Schwarber was expanding his zone earlier in the season, but now he's swinging at the right pitches. "If I stick with the approach, good things will happen," Schwarber said. "You have to learn not to change anything and just stick with that process." Schwarber took the high road when asked what it's like to be questioned every day about his hitting slump. "I don't blame them," he said of fans. "I wish they could feel what I feel. I feel terrible when you're not helping your team. I'm going to go out there every day [because] I want to help my team win." The Cubs are confident that Schwarber will do just that and his teammates will follow suit. The signs have all been there.

Now the hits have to follow, as they did Wednesday, when the Cubs scored seven runs without the aid of a home run. -- ESPNChicago.com The Professor is back: Cubs' Kyle Hendricks recapturing championship form By Bradford Doolittle CHICAGO -- The hand-wringing has been going on for a few days now. What is wrong with the Chicago Cubs? When will the defending champs finally show up? After they beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-5 on Wednesday, the Cubs are back over .500. It's just a starting point for a team that finished 45 games over .500 a season ago. But as we wait for this year's club to find its rhythm, one player seems to be recapturing his championship form. That would be righty Kyle Hendricks, the Professor. "His last outing in Colorado was pretty good as well," Cubs catcher Miguel Montero said after Hendricks mostly baffled the Reds. "Even the [velocity] was picking up. It was good to see. He's just doing a great job right now." Hendricks looked anything but professorial during a rocky three-start stretch to begin his season. He had a 6.19 ERA during those starts, which was a stark contrast to his 2016 season, in which he led the majors with a 2.13 ERA. His ragged start kept his numbers inflated for a while, but now he has eased his way back into Professor mode. "That was classic Kyle right there," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "He was really good. Velocity was up. You saw the bad takes, the bad swings. Contact wasn't as hard." Despite a fierce wind out of the south that bent the trees outside of Wrigley with a bit of violence, Hendricks held the Reds to two runs over six innings Wednesday before departing with 107 pitches under his belt. Hendricks allowed a homer to Zack Cozart because Cozart always homers at Wrigley Field, but after working out of some early jams, Hendricks got stronger as he progressed. Hendricks retired 10 of the last 11 batters he faced, allowing only a walk, and he didn't allow a hit after the third. The Reds' swings grew increasingly feeble as he navigated the Cincinnati lineup for a third time. That's vintage Hendricks, the one we remember from last year. "I got stronger in the later innings," Hendricks said. "I felt much better, much more under control. Getting stronger as the game goes on, that's always a good sign." Over his past five outings, Hendricks has a 1.82 ERA with 25 strikeouts against 11 walks. The Cozart home run was just the second that Hendricks has given up during this stretch. He gave up four homers in those first three starts. But the best evidence of the Professor's return is this: According to True Media, Hendricks' well-hit average allowed in his past five starts is .133; in his first three starts, it was .290. He led the majors in that metric a season ago at .089. Soft contact is the name of his game. Although Hendricks' average velocity still hasn't fully returned to last season's level, it is trending upward. That's good news for any control pitcher, but it's especially good for one such as Hendricks, who relies so heavily on a changeup that gets better with every mile per hour he can muster from his hard stuff. According to Statcast data from baseballsavant.mlb.com, Hendricks averaged 84.1 over the first three innings. Over his final three frames, that was 85.4 mph. That was enough to get the normally implacable Professor pumped up -- sort of. "I talked to him afterward, and he was really excited," Maddon said. Excited? Hendricks?

"Well, he smiled, we shook hands, he nodded. And I believe there was a slight chuckle involved." As a whole, the Cubs' rotation ranks just 16th in the majors with a combined ERA of 4.44. It's still a worry that Jake Arrieta has looked so ordinary. It's still a worry that the Cubs might lack a fifth starter, though they have high hopes after Eddie Butler's debut with the team. But if you've had Hendricks on your list of Cub-related reasons for concern, it's probably safe to scratch him off. "I think they're all trending in the right direction," Maddon said. "[Jon] Lester has been solid the whole year. [John] Lackey has gotten incrementally better. I think the same thing is happening with Kyle right now. What you saw tonight is what Kyle is supposed to look like, and that is very encouraging." The Professor is back. Class is in session. In truth, it was probably never dismissed. The champs might not be in October form, but with a long homestand off to a successful start, the Cubs are starting to show a little bounce. "It's great, coming off a road trip and having an off-day to recharge and having a nice, long homestand," Hendricks said. "You see the at-bats we're putting together already. Early in the game [tonight], just great at-bats. You can tell guys are getting their legs under them a little bit." -- CSNChicago.com Kyle Schwarber Damages Wrigley Video Board As Order Is Restored In Cubs Universe By Patrick Mooney This is an oversimplification. And sometimes only the loudest voices get heard on social media. But where so many Cubs fans and enough of the Chicago media put blind faith and absolute trust into the rebuilding years, there now seems to be some general skepticism and a when-is-it-time-to-panic countdown. Don’t mean to spoil the ending of David Ross’ new book, but the Cubs won the World Series. Last year is over, but the Cubs still have an explosive collection of hitters, a playoff-tested rotation, a significantly better bullpen and money/prospects to spend at the trade deadline. The signs even showed up before Wednesday’s 7-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds, when Kyle Schwarber crushed a ball in batting practice and knocked out part of the lighting for the Budweiser script atop a Wrigley Field video board. “I hope I won’t get the bill,” Schwarber said. “It had some wind behind it, I guess, and got up there, and you could see some wires fall. I apologize in advance.” Schwarber damaged the first two letters and part of the “d” out in right field, or roughly the same spot where one of his home-run balls landed during the 2015 playoffs. If Schwarber doesn’t have a Budweiser deal yet, “I should,” he joked. If you needed another reality check and a reminder of the uncertainty the Cubs used to face, Scott Feldman stood 6-foot-6 on the mound in a gray uniform. This is the answer to the trivia question, the sign-and-flip guy traded along with Steve Clevenger to the Baltimore Orioles for Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop in the middle of a 96-loss season in 2013. The Cubs knocked out Feldman in the third inning, pushing their record to one game above .500 and seeing the correction they predicted. Except for Ian Happ, the Cubs don’t have that many other cards left to play in the middle of May. And manager Joe Maddon doesn’t really think about the point where he would start doing things differently.

“It would have to take a lot, honestly, because they’re so young,” Maddon said. “This is our World Series group and this is our future group. So part of it is you have to understand they have to feel confidence and consistency from me and the organization. “If you just start haphazardly picking names out of a hat or trying to create a different method when it’s really not necessary — that’s what you have to be careful about. “When you have young guys in this position, the big picture would be that you would not want to influence or dent their confidence in any way or have them lose faith in you. “There’s a lot of patience from me right now for the whole group. This is our group. And they’re going to keep getting better.” After all the noise about whether or not Maddon should stick with Schwarber (.188 average) at the leadoff spot, he ignited the five-run burst off Feldman in the second inning when he smashed a two-out, two-run, bases-loaded single past Reds first baseman Joey Votto. “It’s really hard for human beings to process a 162-game season and see it in its entirety, see it from 10,000 feet,” team president Theo Epstein said. “The game wouldn’t be as fun if you could do that. I remember right around this time last year we were 25-6 and I was getting asked non-sarcastic questions about how are we going to manage the push for the greatest record of all-time vs. resting our guys for the playoffs. I called BS on that. “And now I’m getting asked about if we’re going to send everyday guys down to Triple-A. (And) I was asked by someone else if we were going to consider selling and things like that. So I call BS on that, too.” On an 83-degree night with 24-mph winds gusting, Kyle Hendricks again looked like the guy who impersonated Greg Maddux and led the majors in ERA last season. Hendricks is 2-1 with a 1.82 ERA in his last five starts after limiting the Reds (19-20) to two runs across six innings. The rotation is beginning to trend in the right direction and that is how the Cubs will take off from 20-19. “Ultimately, you are how you play over the course of a season,” Epstein said. “But you also have to look at the amount of talent on a club and whether you trust their makeup and whether they care and whether you think we’re going to reach our level, because we’re going to work really hard to make adjustments and overcome whatever adversity is presented us. “I don’t want to sound like I’m blind to what’s gone on or sort of like overly faithful in certain guys. (But) you also have to trust what you believe about players and what you see and understand the season is 162 games for a reason, because it tends to be a meritocracy.” The Cubs are also getting under people’s skin again. After another stress-free ninth inning ended for Wade Davis (9-for-9 in save chances, zero earned runs in 18 appearances) with an overturned replay call, Reds manager Bryan Price had this to say to reporters: “Two teams are trying to win that game. As much as it’s ‘Hail to the Cubs’ and they’re the World Series champs and they’re great, we’re trying to win the ballgame, too. Until I see that, I’m going to be more than upset. That's not a way to end a ballgame, unless they can show us something that's definitive. If they can't, shame on them." -- CSNChicago.com Jason McLeod Goes Inside The Ian Happ/Andrew Benintendi Draft By Patrick Mooney

Imagine Andrew Benintendi — “Freddy Lynn reincarnated” in Joe Maddon’s mind — flying all over Wrigley Field and hitting in a lineup that already included Kyle Schwarber, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Addison Russell all under club control through the 2021 season. Two names stood out at the top of the draft board on June 8, 2015, the Cubs targeting their favorite demographic — college hitters — with the ninth overall pick: Benintendi and Ian Happ. A Boston Red Sox scouting department with deep connections to Theo Epstein and Jason McLeod came at the No. 7 pick with a similar philosophy. Where one fast-track player hit .295 in 34 games for a 93-win team last year — and entered this season as Baseball America’s No. 1 overall prospect — the other is now batting cleanup for the defending World Series champs. “We obviously liked (Benintendi) quite a bit,” McLeod said on this week’s Cubs Talk Podcast. “We spent a lot of time scouting him as well. Again, going back to that question, did we think (Ian would) be here this fast? (Look at) what (Benintendi’s) done with Boston. Players have recently just kind of switched the timetable a little bit, especially those ultra-talented guys.” McLeod, the senior vice president who oversees scouting and player development, couldn’t have his staff zero in on one player, the way the Cubs focused so heavily on Bryant (No. 2 overall) and Schwarber (No. 4 overall) in the 2013 and 2014 drafts. One theory floating around an organization already loaded with hitters wondered if the Cubs would roll the dice with Brady Aiken, who got drafted with the first selection in 2014 but couldn’t reach an agreement with the Houston Astros amid medical concerns. The Cubs ultimately viewed that as a risky investment where the payoff would maybe take years. Aiken — who had been recovering from Tommy John surgery on his left elbow — got drafted by the Cleveland Indians eight spots after Happ and is now pitching in A-ball. Instead of dreaming about potential, the Cubs felt far more comfortable projecting Happ’s high-level performance at the University of Cincinnati and as a two-time Cape Cod League All Star. The Cubs would keep collecting young hitters and getting solid returns, knowing that some could be traded for pitching later. That draft order would’ve been switched around if the Cubs hadn’t swept a three-game series from the Red Sox in the middle of the 2014 season, as a Boston Globe story detailed during last month’s potential World Series preview. The rebuilding Cubs (73-89) actually finished with a better record than the defending World Series champs (71-91) that year. “Everything just aligned,” McLeod said. “Obviously, the Red Sox made it easier for us when they took Benintendi with their selection. We had a pretty good sense once that happened that Happ would be our guy. “I can tell you that once Andrew was taken, those of us in the room felt really good, like: ‘We’re going to get Happ.’ Once he was there for us, we were all excited to bring in this switch-hitter with power and on-base (skills) who was another kind of blue-collar, hard-nosed guy. “He’s very intense. He has high expectations of himself. We’ve seen that. He’s quieter in the sense that he’s not rah-rah. He’s just very intense about what he wants to get accomplished when he gets to the ballpark that day.” Happ clearly didn’t spend a lot of time in the minors — 227 games overall and only 26 on the Triple-A level — but he had a sense of purpose and a chip on his shoulder while working on his defense. “There were questions,” McLeod said. “Not on if he could play defense. I think the conversation with him coming out of the draft that year was: What is his best position? Because he had played infield, he had played outfield. Where would the eventual landing spot be?

“It was more in a positive way. Not: Well, gosh, where can we hide him on the field? It was never anything to do with that. (But) I do feel like he can be an average second baseman in the major leagues. He has enough athleticism, for sure, to be an average outfielder at multiple positions in the outfield.” Between the home runs, the sliding catches in the outfield and the way he handles himself in the clubhouse, Happ keeps giving the Cubs reasons to not send him back to Iowa. Maddon is already talking up Happ as a Bryant defensive clone and imagining the possibilities. “I wouldn’t put it past him,” McLeod said, “if Joe asks (Ian to do what) he does with Kris. I think that Ian would be able to be a player like that who could go play first base, who could go stand at third, catch what’s hit to him. If you were asking me to pigeonhole him in one spot, I don’t know exactly what that spot is yet, just because he’s been playing a lot of different positions. I think he can be a big-league defender at multiple positions.” -- CSNChicago.com Cubs Add Pierce Johnson To Bullpen And Send Jeimer Candelario Back To Triple-A Iowa By Patrick Mooney Roughly an hour before first pitch on Wednesday night at Wrigley Field, the Cubs optioned infielder Jeimer Candelario to Triple-A Iowa and added Pierce Johnson to their bullpen. Johnson — the first pitcher the Theo Epstein regime drafted for the Cubs — will be available to make his big-league debut against the Cincinnati Reds. Johnson — the 43rd overall pick out of Missouri State University in 2012 and the compensation for losing free agent Aramis Ramirez — struggled with command issues and health problems as a starter and pivoted toward a bullpen role last summer. Johnson went 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA in 12 appearances for Iowa this season, putting up 21 strikeouts against 11 walks and 15 hits through 14 innings. -- Chicago Tribune Cubs' surprise call-up Ian Happ proving he belongs in big leagues By Paul Sullivan Jimmy Wynn was a smallish outfielder who played in the 1960s and '70s, mostly for the Astros, and went by the nickname "Toy Cannon." Though he stood 5-foot-10 and weighed only 160 pounds, Wynn had unusual power for someone his size. He wound up with 291 home runs over a 15-year career, despite spending much of his career playing in the cavernous Astrodome. "At times, I forgot my real name," Wynn once told mlb.com. "If I hit a ball hard — or out of the park — I would go back to the bench and look out to the mound to see the pitcher saying, 'How in the world can that little man hit the ball so far and so hard?'" Cubs' rookie Ian Happ is a couple of inches taller and about 40 pounds heavier than Wynn. But his compact swing and power potential are reminiscent of the "Toy Cannon," a name Happ admitted he never had heard. "I don't know him," Happ said. "But look at a guy like (Jose) Altuve. He puts balls out of the park every year and his swing is so good, with so much leverage, and it gives him a chance to hit for power. Anybody can have power."

Happ is now putting that power on display for the Cubs, making it difficult for President Theo Epstein to send him back to Triple-A Iowa when Jason Heyward returns from his knuckle injury. The switch-hitting rookie hit nine home runs in 26 games at Iowa before his weekend call-up, then cranked out two in his first three games as a Cub. It wasn't the plan to call Happ up this early, but Epstein said he wanted to "give this team a little bit of a jolt." Happ made his fourth start in the outfield Wednesday night, going 0-for-3 with a walk in the Cubs 7-5 victory over the Reds. It was his second straight game batting clean-up and starting in center, where Albert Almora Jr., Heyward and Jon Jay have shared playing time. In a bit of good timing, Happ already has seen the wind furiously blowing out twice, including a 24 mph wind Wednesday. "Rather have that than it blowing straight in your face," he said, sounding as though he has been here before. Happ looks and feels comfortable in center, and said he's ready to "bounce around the field" whenever asked. The Cubs bouncer, manager Joe Maddon, has yet to use Happ at second, his natural position. "I'm willing to see him at second, but I don't think we have to right now," Maddon said, pointing to Javier Baez and Ben Zobrist as a pretty sound second base combo. "It's not like I'm going to force it. But if it pops up, yes, you'll see him there." For the first time in franchise history on Tuesday, the Cubs played five of their own first-round draft picks in Happ, Almora, Baez, Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber. Epstein said the plan for Happ was written in "pencil," suggesting it could be changed easily. "He tends to be streaky, so when he gets on a hot streak it gets really hot and lasts a long time," Epstein said. "And he has a great temperament. He seems comfortable up here already. "I think spring training really helped him. His defensive instincts have improved tremendously from where he was in college (at Cincinnati). He looks more comfortable at a bunch of positions now, and that allows us to find a spot in the lineup for him more consistently. "We'll play it by ear, do the appropriate thing for the team and Ian's development. We weren't anticipating an extremely long-term stay, but we're going to read and react, based on how he plays and what's going on with the other guys and their health." Hopefully Happ can stick around for a while. A jolt is exactly what this team needs. -- Chicago Tribune Ben Zobrist collects two hits in return to a Cubs' lineup that could be under more evaluation By Mark Gonzales Ben Zobrist returned Wednesday night to the Cubs lineup in a development that could open more options for manager Joe Maddon. After not starting the last three games because of lower-back stiffness, Zobrist showed good form with a single during a five-run second inning and a double that sailed over the head of left fielder Adam Duvall to spark a two-run third in a 7-5 victory over the Reds. For the second consecutive night, warm temperatures were accompanied by 20 mph-plus gusts blowing toward the outfield. But unlike Tuesday night, when the Cubs slugged four home runs, no power was necessary.

In this game the Cubs showed they gradually are regaining the art of clutch hitting as they sent 11 batters to the plate during their five-run rally. Left-handed hitters Kyle Schwarber and Anthony Rizzo continued to display signs of improvement with run-scoring singles. In pre-game batting practice, Schwarber struck an advertising sign above the right field scoreboard. "You could see some wires fall, so I apologize in advance," Schwarber joked. "I'm sure they'll make that quick fix." Zobrist, meanwhile, wasn't cleared officially to start until his back felt fine after batting practice. That prompted the Cubs to option corner infielder Jeimer Candelario to Triple-A Iowa and promote reliever Pierce Johnson, the first pitcher Theo Epstein drafted for the Cubs in 2012. The demotion of Candelario was announced less than two hours after Maddon confirmed the Cubs are exploring the possibility of playing rookie Ian Happ at third and first base. Happ gives the Cubs tremendous flexibility because of his ability to switch-hit as well as play the outfield and middle infield. "We're so maneuverable right now," Maddon said. Happ, 22, started his second consecutive game in center field and made a sliding catch to rob Duvall of a hit in the fifth. Jon Jay returned to the lineup for the first time since suffering back spasms Friday and had an RBI single in the third. Jay also survived a scare in the second when he was beaned by a pitch from Reds starter Scott Feldman but remained in the game after receiving medical attention. With Jason Heyward starting a minor-league rehab assignment Thursday at Class A South Bend, Maddon has some time to evaluate Happ. The addition of Johnson, 26, gives the Cubs an eight-man bullpen that might come in handy during a stretch of 16 games without a day off through May 31. Reliever Mike Montgomery's 18-inning scoreless streak was stopped in the seventh as he was charged with three runs. Starter Kyle Hendricks helped his cause when he executed a squeeze bunt in the third and he retired 10 of the final 11 batters he faced in his six-hit, six-inning stint. "That was classic Kyle," Maddon said. -- Chicago Tribune Reds manager Bryan Price steamed after call reversal By Mark Gonzales Cubs manager Joe Maddon couldn't recall winning a game in which the final out was recorded on the reversal of a call following a replay. But in the eyes of Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price, the reversal never should have been made that secured a 7-5 win Wednesday night for the Cubs.

Price believed there wasn't conclusive evidence to cause the call to be overturned, as first base umpire Ed Hickox initially ruled that first baseman Anthony Rizzo's foot was off the bag after receiving a throw from Addison Russell on a grounder hit by Joey Votto. Price said he already contacted general manager Dick Williams about speaking with Major League Baseball about the reversal. "There was only one vantage point that we saw that would have been able to establish if Rizzo's foot was on the bag, and it was not definitive in our eyes to where you could overturn that call," Price said. "Now we're one swing of the bat away from tying up that ballgame. Two teams are trying to win that game. "As much of it is 'hail to the Cubs' and they're the World Series champs and they're great, we're trying to win the ballgame, too. Until I see that, I'm going to be more than upset. That's not a way to end a ballgame unless they can show us something that's definitive. If they can't, shame on them because there's nothing as managers that we can do because the call is being made in New York. It better be right. It better be definitive. Because if it's not, we're all going to be (upset) here." Price wasn't finished venting. "You know what?" Price continued. "We're all going to live with it. We'll all live with it. We want to win that game. We want that one shot with (Adam) Duvall or (Eugenio) Suarez or get to (Scott) Schebler, whatever it is, to get back and win or tie that game in that at-bat. To walk off and have somebody that's on the East Coast making a decision that decides, that potentially decides the outcome of the game and to have no ability to defend it or fight for it? It's ridiculous. "All it does is put us all in here asking what can we do, other than be upset, angry and have nothing and no place to go vent, no place. That's wrong. It's not the way the system should be implemented. We should have a definitive shot of how they could overturn that and we don't. At this point in time, all we have is a call into the league. And they will or will not come up with a shot that's going to convince us they made the right decision. "I'd sleep better if I knew they had a definitive shot of that. But what we saw was not something worthy of overturning that call. That makes me sick to my stomach to have to sleep on that tonight and I'm sure all the players, as well." -- Chicago Tribune Albert Almora Jr. humbled by Jackie Robinson's history at Wrigley Field By Mark Gonzales Thursday marks the 70th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's first game at Wrigley Field, an event that amazes Chicago Cubs outfielder Albert Almora Jr. “That’s insane, isn’t it, to think about it like that," Almora said of the distinction of playing on the field as Robinson, who broke baseball's color barrier. "Jackie did a lot more than that. He was a great player. He was before my time, but I remember watching documentaries, watching movies and reading about him. I remember writing projects on him as a kid. People like him influenced the world. It’s pretty special to be on the same field that he was on many years ago." Wrigley remains the only remaining park Robinson played in that still exists. The Cubs will commemorate Robinson's first game at Wrigley - May 18, 1947 - by having Meta Robinson, Robinson's granddaughter, raise a new flag honoring his legacy on the right field foul pole Thursday morning. "This kind of atmosphere at Wrigley and Boston have a lot to offer," said Almora, 23, who was wearing a T-shirt with Robinson's No. 42 printed on the front.

"A lot of great players have come through, and he was at the top." -- Chicago Tribune Cubs' Kyle Hendricks steering toward 2016 form By Mark Gonzales After limiting Colorado to two earned runs in 6 1/3 innings at hitter-friendly Coors Field on May 10 and retiring 10 of the final Cincinnati 11 batters despite warm and gusty conditions Wednesday night, Kyle Hendricks may be back to regaining his 2016 form. “Much closer,” Hendricks said after the Cubs held on for a 7-5 win. “That game was one of my better ones because I got stronger.” For the Cubs, there are encouraging signs that Hendricks is back. He pitched inside with more confidence and knowing that his fastball had more zip than earlier in the year, and his control kept the Reds’ off-balance. “His velocity was up,” manager Joe Maddon said. “Bad takes, bad swings, contact was not as hard. He was really excited because he knew that was right, and that was a great game to build off of.” Hendricks said he started to pitch inside once he noticed the Reds’ hitters were diving more at pitches with a 24-mph gust toward center field. Hendricks is 2-1 with a 1.82 ERA in his past five starts after posting a 6.19 ERA in his first three starts. His ERA dipped to 3.35 – still below his major league-leading 2.13 mark in 2016. “To repeat the year he had last year is tough,” catcher Miguel Montero said. “He set the bar very high. We don’t expect anything less than that. We got to be realistic, but he’s doing a great job right now.” -- Chicago Tribune Cubs fan dies after falling over railing at Wrigley: 'He was a great guy, everyone loved him' By Rosemary Regina Sobol and Tony Briscoe Wheaton man died a day after falling over a railing and hitting his head while leaving Wrigley Field after Tuesday night's game, officials said. Richard E. Garrity, 42, was pronounced dead at 3:33 p.m. Wednesday at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Garrity was taken by private ambulance to the hospital, police said. The Cubs said in a statement that Garrity fell as he was leaving the ballpark around 11 p.m. The game had ended around 10:20 p.m. "The thoughts and prayers of our entire organization are with his family during this difficult time," the Cubs statement said. Garrity, a marketing manager for Heineken, had attended the Cubs game against the Cincinnati Reds as a work outing with colleagues and his wife, according to his father, Richard Garrity Sr. “He was a great guy, everyone loved him,” Garrity said of his son, who loved golfing and gardening. “When he walked in a room, there were no strangers.”

He said his son was a lifelong Cubs fan. The elder Garrity said he spoke with his son during the game because he was babysitting the couple’s 9-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son. Relatives didn’t have many details about the circumstances of Garrity’s death. His wife wasn’t with him and had tried to call him after the game, his father said. She learned he had been taken to the hospital. A graduate of Arizona State University, Garrity Jr. had also worked for Chicago Beverage Systems, according to his LinkedIn profile. He was born in Aurora and lived in the 2300 block of Embden Lane, according to the medical examiner's office. An autopsy was slated for Thursday. --