June 12, 2017

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs will be much busier in MLB draft this year http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-will-be-much-busier-in-mlb-draft-this-year/

Chicago Sun-Times, Umpires changing wild pitch to hit batsman irks Maddon http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/umpires-changing-wild-pitch-to-hit-batsman-irks-maddon/

Chicago Sun-Times, Struggling Russell, Schwarber homer as Cubs salvage finale vs. Rockies http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/struggling-russell-schwarber-homer-as-cubs-salvage-finale-vs-rockies/

Chicago Sun-Times, Championship bling keeps getting gaudier and gaudier http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/championship-bling-keeps-getting-gaudier-and-gaudier/

Chicago Sun-Times, Joe Maddon defends struggling Cubs’ effort http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/joe-maddon-defends-struggling-cubs-effort/

Daily Herald, Back-to-back homers from Russell, Schwarber lift Cubs past Rockies 7-5 http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170611/back-to-back-homers-from-russell-schwarber-lift-cubs-past-rockies-7-5

Daily Herald, Leadoff spot still an issue for Chicago Cubs http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170611/leadoff-spot-still-an-issue-for-chicago-cubs

Daily Herald, Imrem: Chicago Cubs' confidence fragile at the moment http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170611/imrem-chicago-cubs-confidence-fragile-at-the-moment

Cubs.com, Cubs launch four homers to secure finale W http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/235751440/cubs-hit-four-homers-in-win-over-rockies/

Cubs.com, Schwarber: Win a 'positive step' for Cubs http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/235839666/cubs-kyle-schwarber-hits-game-winning-pinch-hr/

Cubs.com, Cubs looking for more leadoff production http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/235752530/cubs-hoping-for-more-leadoff-production/

Cubs.com, Lackey, Cubs open road trip vs. Mets http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/235749276/lackey-cubs-open-road-trip-vs-mets

CSNChicago.com, Anthony Rizzo's 'Throwback' Approach At The Plate Setting The Tone For Cubs http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/anthony-rizzos-throwback-approach-plate-setting-tone-cubs-joey-votto-kris-bryant

CSNChicago.com, 'Anger Is Not A Solution' For Cubs' Struggles http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/mlb-anger-not-solution-cubs-struggles-offense-maddon-schwarber-rizzo-bryant-uber-drivers

Chicago Tribune, Cubs refine pitching model for Monday's amateur draft http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-jason-mcleod-amateur-draft-20170611-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs offense wakes up to snap 4-game skid http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-rockies-spt-0612-20170611-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Jake Arrieta says cut on thumb won't affect next start http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-jake-arrieta-cut-thumb-notes-spt-0612-20170611-story.html

-- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs will be much busier in MLB draft this year By Toni Ginnetti The Cubs will have the 27th and 30th overall picks in the MLB draft Monday and four of the first 105 selections. That compares favorably to last season, when the Cubs didn’t have a selection until No. 104, which they used on Oklahoma State right-hander Thomas Hatch. The two first-round picks will come with nearly a $7.5 million signing-bonus slot. “Last year we actually went to the beach,’’ senior vice president of scouting Jason McLeod said of drafting so late. “It was pretty laid back. I doubt we’ll be doing that this year. I know we won’t be doing that this year.’’ The Cubs famously selected hitters in the first drafts under team president Theo Epstein, with Albert Almora Jr., Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber among the success stories. McLeod said the team isn’t necessarily eyeing pitching this time. “The most impact player available,’’ he said. “We’re not going to try to invent a pitcher there. I’d love to be talking [Monday night] and say, ‘We got a pitcher that we’re excited about.’ But I don’t know if it’s going to fall that way.’’ McLeod described this year’s draft as “one of the more volatile years to try to do our projections. “You maybe don’t have as many of the top-end college position players as in [other] years. “There have been some injuries to some high school [pitchers]. So I think it’s a little more volatile in terms of what teams are going to do in front of us. “It makes it a little harder for us, but it doesn’t change the way we prepare for it.’’ -- Chicago Sun-Times Umpires changing wild pitch to hit batsman irks Maddon By Toni Ginnetti Jake Arrieta held a 4-0 lead before a strange fifth inning Sunday ended his outing. Arrieta gave up a double to Tony Wolters and walked pinch hitter Raimel Tapia to start the inning. An initial call of a wild pitch to Charlie Blackmon advanced the runners until Rockies manager Bud Black came out to talk to plate umpire Marvin Hudson. After all four umpires conferred, Blackmon was awarded first base as a hit batter. Cubs manager Joe Maddon questioned the call and eventually lifted Arrieta.

“Apparently, there’s a rule that it’s not a challenge thing,’’ Maddon said of the decision allowing the umpires to confer in questions of a hit batsman. “My argument was how can you see it any differently from out there [on the field]. I think in those situations, you should use a challenge.’’ Carl Edwards Jr. (2-0) finished the inning and earned the victory, with Koji Uehara (two innings) and Wade Davis (13th save) finishing. Look familiar? When the Cubs started 2016 on a roll that never ended, pitching was the difference compared to their 2015 playoff team. That might be the difference for the 2017 Rockies, always known for their hitting. “I knew they were good in the field and could play defense,’’ Maddon said. “But the difference between now and the last couple of years is definitely pitching.’’ The Rockies have the fourth-best ERA in the National League. Starter Tyler Chatwood, who won Thursday, could be the staff’s best, Maddon said. “Keep an eye on this guy because what he’s doing now and how he’s doing it, by the end of the season, you’ll be talking about him a lot,’’ he said. Remembering Stan The amateur draft that begins Monday will be the first since the sudden death last fall of Stan Zielinski, one of the Cubs’ longtime local scouts whose successful signings included Kyle Schwarber. “We always talk about Stan,’’ vice president of scouting Jason McLeod said this week, recalling “Stan-isms.’’ “We were reading a follow report [he prepared] on a kid, and it was along the lines of: ‘We have to treat this kid like a student driver. He’s new to this, and we just hope it’s not a bumpy ride, and it’s a smooth ride with him.’ We all got a chuckle about it.’’ -- Chicago Sun-Times Struggling Russell, Schwarber homer as Cubs salvage finale vs. Rockies By Toni Ginnetti Advice is coming from all directions, but “seat of the pants’’ decision-making is not in manager Joe Maddon’s manual. “Anger is not a solution,’’ he said. ‘‘Seat-of-the-pants decisions are not the answer, either.’’ On display during much of the Cubs’ 6-4 homestand, their offensive struggles are symptomatic of a young team, he said — even though that team is essentially the same one that won the 2016 World Series. All the experience gained last year didn’t include the lessons that come from failure. “It’s part of the game,’’ catcher Miguel Montero said of the hitting woes that have dogged Addison Russell and Kyle Schwarber, who had key home runs in the Cubs’ 7-5 victory Sunday against the Rockies that snapped a four-game skid.

“The thing is, you need to be patient with them because they’re still young. They had so much success so early in their careers, their time in the minors was so short. It’s human nature to try to do too much. “When you win a World Series, you have big expectations [put on you]. Maybe things haven’t worked out the way we hoped, but I can see it coming. They don’t quit. “And you only get experience when you’re here. They’re still maturing and getting better.’’ Maddon is of the same mind as Montero, who went 2-for-4 and hit his first home run since May 4. He thinks it’s best to keep “information overload” to a minimum when young players struggle. “I’m certain Uber drivers have been telling them how to hit right now,’’ Maddon said. “They’re going to keep playing. Sometimes you have to permit guys to embrace the suck and struggle through things [at this level].’’ Maddon did employ a more “veteran’’ lineup in hopes of salvaging the last game against the Rockies, and the strategy paid off. Jon Jay went 2-for-5 in the leadoff spot, Ben Zobrist was 2-for-4, including a three-run homer in the first inning, and Jason Heyward provided game-saving defense in the fourth. And perhaps the rub-off effect helped Russell, whose two-out homer in the sixth broke a 4-4 tie, and pinch hitter Schwarber, who followed Russell. “It felt good to see some success, but tomorrow is another day,’’ Russell said. “There were good at-bats the whole day,’’ Schwarber said. Maddon is hopeful the carryover will be a boost in confidence — the element he said his young players need the most. “Regardless of what you’ve done in the past, it’s so easy to forget that because you’re trying to do well in the present,’’ Maddon said. “Sometimes when things aren’t going properly and they start happening too quickly, all of a sudden you lose whatever that little thing is that permits you to slow things down and maintain your confidence. We’re all subject to that.’’ Don’t expect a shuttle service to the minors as a way to boost confidence. “When you move people around, who are you going to bring up and what do you want out of the person you’re bringing up?’’ Maddon said. “If there is an absolute, positive reason to move someone and you get to that point, then you do something. “But if you want to move somebody back, you have to choose who you bring in their stead. “I am slanted toward the younger guys and the development component of this game. If you choose not to do that, you’ll end up in a lot of trouble in a few years. “There are times you have to absorb growing pains and know there are times guys are going to struggle, but they have to learn how to come out of that. When they do, they’re going to be better for it. “I don’t jump on and off bandwagons. The youngsters are here. They need to play. I believe in these guys. They’re really good, and they’ll show it again relatively soon.’’

-- Chicago Sun-Times Championship bling keeps getting gaudier and gaudier By Rick Morrissey Somewhere along the line, boxing decided a tuxedo was the ultimate way to battle its seedy image, like a crucifix warding off a vampire. It’s why you almost always see the ring announcer in a tux at fights. A promoter might wear one, too, as might some of the big shots sitting ringside. Sure, that’ll class things up. America’s major sports don’t have similar self-image issues. So there’s no good explanation for why, given the opportunity to commemorate a title, teams are producing championship rings so gaudy that a pimp might find them over the top. To honor last season’s Super Bowl victory, the Patriots ordered rings with 283 diamonds each for their players. According to the team, they are the biggest Super Bowl rings ever made. Logic dictates that there should be a “because’’ here, but I don’t think there is one other than “because bigger is always better.’’ One Super Bowl victory is not more important than the one that came before it, but try telling that to the team that won the most recent title. When asked why he wanted to climb Mount Everest, George Mallory said, “Because it’s there.’’ Then he put on a massive ring that wailed like an air-raid siren. No, he didn’t. Actually, he uttered his famous words, then dropped the mic and walked away. No, he didn’t do that, either. He let his words and efforts speak for themselves. That’s called “understatement.’’ I know: soooooo boring. What we have now is an arms race for fingers. There are chandeliers that feel inadequate in the presence of some of these rings. Lest you think I’m picking on the Patriots, whose rings contain double the number of diamonds that their 2004 and 2005 championship rings had, know that the Cubs’ rings from their 2016 championship season look like they just finished a three-week engagement as an Elvis impersonator in Vegas. If any team deserved to shout from the mountaintop ring-wise, it would be the Cubs. They hadn’t won a World Series since 1908, and clearly something worthy of the accomplishment was necessary. But, man. Here’s a description of the bauble from the team: The Chicago Cubs World Series Championship Ring, designed and produced by Jostens, is made from 14-karat white gold. Its top features the traditional Cubs bull’s-eye logo, masterfully crafted from 33 custom-cut genuine red rubies that are surrounded by 72 round white diamonds, all within a circular perimeter made up of 46 custom-cut, genuine blue sapphires. The bezel is surrounded by 108 round white diamonds lifting the Cubs’ logo to victory and signifying the end of an historic 108-year championship drought. Overall, the ring contains 214 diamonds at 5.5 karats, 3 karats of genuine red rubies and 2.5 karats of genuine sapphires. One side features the player’s name set atop the iconic W Flag, which is created from 31 round white diamonds and a fire blue corundum understone that forms the “W.” That’s a gob of bling. I don’t know why anybody would want to wear one of these things in public, other than at the kind of pickup bar where you can succeed with lines like, “Kiss me if I’m wrong, but dinosaurs still exist, right?’’ As ostentatious as the Cubs’ rings are, their fatal flaw is the image of the goat on the inner band. For a franchise that tried for so long to distance itself from the silly curse of the Billy Goat to then acknowledge it with a rendering of a cloven animal on a ring is like wearing a wedding ring etched with the name of the girl who called you year after year to tell you she still wouldn’t go to the senior prom with you. I don’t know where this ring race is going except onward, upward and bling-ward. Rings that can double as disco balls? I think we’re there already. Rings not meant to be worn, ones that come with their own unbreachable

display cases, like you see at a museum? Clearly, we’re on the road to that. Maybe a movable display case that could follow the athlete around. The Patriots, of all people, should know how out of control the rings have gotten. In 2005, team owner Robert Kraft allowed Russian president Vladimir Putin to look at his Super Bowl ring. Then Putin promptly stole it, according to Kraft. “I took out the ring and showed it to [Putin], and he put it on and he goes, ‘I can kill someone with this ring,’ ” Kraft said. “I put my hand out, and he put it in his pocket, and three KGB guys got around him and walked out.” What kind of man covets garish Super Bowl rings enough to steal one? The kind of man who would allow himself to be photographed shirtless riding a horse. We elevate sports so much in this country that I suppose it makes sense that winning teams would create rings that reflect their sense of scale and value in relation to the rest of us. But isn’t it enough that we mere humans are the plastic rings you used to find in Cracker Jack boxes? I guess not. -- Chicago Sun-Times Joe Maddon defends struggling Cubs’ effort By David Just The Cubs have been struggling in a variety of ways, but those struggles aren’t for lack of effort, manager Joe Maddon said. ‘‘We do care,’’ Maddon said. ‘‘We’re just not hitting. ‘‘I don’t have any strong explanations for it. A lot of guys are really struggling badly at the same time. They’re the same guys that we rode to the World Series last year, and they’re very good young players. ‘‘It’s just not working right now. Moments like this, you have to stay consistent in your approach with them and keep working. You know it’s going to come back.’’ Maddon said he didn’t think the Cubs played poorly in their 9-1 loss Saturday to the Rockies. He said they got a bit unlucky in the ninth inning, when a hard grounder bounced off the foot of reliever Pedro Strop. The play opened the door to a five-run outburst and turned a 4-1 deficit into a 9-1 hole. Third baseman Kris Bryant echoed Maddon’s sentiments about the Cubs’ effort. ‘‘Something that makes me proud watching everybody here play is that everybody cares,’’ Bryant said. ‘‘You’ll hear the occasional helmet toss or bat break in the tunnel because everybody cares. Everybody wants to do good, and you don’t want to let your team down. We’re definitely not lacking in that category.’’ Russell returns to lineup Shortstop Addison Russell was back in the Cubs’ starting lineup, batting eighth. The start was Russell’s first since Major League Baseball opened a domestic-violence investigation into an allegation involving Russell. ‘‘You’ve just got to throw him back out there and try to have him work through the whole thing,’’ Maddon said. Russell’s poor performance on the field continued, though. He went 0-for-2 with a strikeout and struggled on defense before Maddon pinch-hit for him with two runners on base in the seventh.

‘‘Addison looked a little off, even on defense,’’ Maddon said. ‘‘His whole game was off just a click. ‘‘I normally wouldn’t pinch-hit for him right there. But based on what I’m seeing, [I’m] trying to ease him back into the flow of things. Just still off a little bit, but we’re going to put him right back out there [Sunday].’’ Cubs recall Pena The Cubs recalled right-hander Felix Pena from Class AAA Iowa and optioned right-hander Seth Frankoff to Iowa. Pena allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth, then came back out for the ninth and yielded a hit and two walks to start the five-run inning Strop finished. Pena joined the Cubs for the third time this season. He posted a 3.38 ERA in four relief appearances in his earlier stints. Frankoff made his major-league debut Friday, allowing two runs and four hits and striking out two in two innings. -- Daily Herald Back-to-back homers from Russell, Schwarber lift Cubs past Rockies 7-5 By Russell Dorsey The Chicago Cubs have needed a jolt to get them out of the latest offensive funk they've been in the past week -- a big inning, a hit barrage, a big home run, anything. They got all of that and more Sunday in their 7-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field. Things didn't look good for the Cubs after the team gave up their early 4-0 lead and wasted a golden opportunity, failing to score with runners at the corners and no outs in the fourth inning. They started to resemble the same team that came in losers of four straight. After the Cubs wasted that opportunity, Colorado took advantage of starting pitcher Jake Arrieta's control issues in the fifth inning. Arrieta's command was fine through his first 4 innings as he pounded the strike zone and limited baserunners, but a lack of command soon cost Arrieta in the fifth. After allowing a leadoff double, he walked two and hit a batter, loading the bases twice. Rockies first baseman Mark Reynolds laced an RBI single to left, making it 4-2 and ending Arrieta's day. "Zobrist with the big homer, obviously feeling good about the lead at that point, cruising to the fifth. I've had this lingering cut, that's almost closed, it just got to a point where it was really sensitive out there in the fifth," Arrieta said. "The friction between my finger and the ball every pitch got to a point where I wasn't able to execute the way I would like." The Rockies' Ian Desmond promptly welcomed reliever Carl Edwards with a 2-run single up the middle to tie it at 4-4. Arrieta's final numbers were 4 runs in 4⅓ innings, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts and a no-decision. "When you have a lead like that, you don't want to relinquish the lead. That's always in my mind, even though it was early in the game. The best guy to get a strikeout there was CJ. Period," Cubs manager Joe Maddon of going to Edwards. "He pitched well. Groundball basehit, there's not a thing you can do about that. He just got the ball in as opposed to away, but he did great." The Cubs needed someone to step up, and shortstop Addison Russell did just that, coming up with what likely was his biggest swing of the season. Russell lined a solo home run into the basket in left to give the Cubs a 5-4 lead.

Pinch hitter Kyle Schwarber followed, crushing a mammoth solo homer to the bleachers in right that eventually would be the game-winner. "As a hitter you're just trying to get a good pitch to hit and like you saw in the first inning, the guy left some pitches over the plate and we put good swings on them," Schwarber said. "Same thing with me and Addi. He got the hanging breaking ball, and I was able to get a heater down and in. We're going to take this as a positive." Catcher Miguel Montero added his fourth home run of the season in the eighth to make it 7-4. The Cubs' offense, which had been quiet, showed signs of life Sunday, including their 4-run first inning in which they sent eight men to the plate. First baseman Anthony Rizzo's RBI double put the Cubs in front 1-0. Left fielder Ben Zobrist capped the inning with a 3-run shot to the patio in right field. The Rockies wouldn't have another baserunner after their 4-run fifth until the ninth as they added a run off closer Wade Davis before Davis completed his 13th save in as many opportunities. The Cubs also snapped a four-game losing streak and moved back to .500 at 31-31. They are 26-10 when scoring 4 or more runs. The victory also ended the Rockies' seven-game winning streak. -- Daily Herald Leadoff spot still an issue for Chicago Cubs By Russell Dorsey The Chicago Cubs have had their share of offensive struggles, and some of that can be attributed to the inconsistency and lack of production out of the leadoff spot. The departure of Dexter Fowler has left a noticeable void atop the order, and despite being 62 games through the season, the team hasn't found a viable replacement. Cubs manager Joe Maddon hasn't been afraid to shake things up in search of a catalyst as Kyle Schwarber, Ian Happ, Ben Zobrist and Javier Baez have all gotten the opportunity to be the table setter. While the results have not been good, Maddon believes the players he's putting at the top of the lineup are the right ones for the job. "It's been inconsistent, there's no question about that. The difference with Schwarbs is that he's just not getting his hits," Maddon said. "I think he's still 100 points over his batting average as far as on-base. "Happ is the same way. He still has a good on-base percentage over his batting average. Right now it doesn't look as good because they're not hitting like they're capable of. "Javy (Baez) against a lefty isn't a bad bet. He hits lefties well, but Schwarber and Happ among the guys we have right now or even like a Jon Jay are probably best suited for that. Happ and Schwarber based on their ability, historically, to draw walks are probably the best candidates." The work continues: After an impressive start to his big-league career, Ian Happ has cooled off. Happ, who took over the leadoff spot when Schwarber was moved down in the order, is hitting just .167 (5-for-30) over his last 10 games.

"He's been engaged. I do look over and he's watching the whole game and he's definitely ready to go," manager Joe Maddon said. "All our guys are good about all that stuff. "I'm really pleased with their work and how much they care, and our coaches do a great job prepping them. Ian's been fine. He's off just a little bit at the plate, but he'll be back to where he had been. "He has a tendency to be streaky, and we're going to grab that hot streak really soon." Cubs looking to draft: The Cubs will have the 27th and 30th overall picks in the first round of Monday's MLB first-year player draft. The Cubs 30th' overall pick in the compensatory round is compensation for the St. Louis Cardinals signing Dexter Fowler in the off-season. The Cubs haven't had a first-round selection since 2015, when the team selected Ian Happ out of the University of Cincinnati with the ninth overall pick. -- Daily Herald Imrem: Chicago Cubs' confidence fragile at the moment By Mike Imrem Adam West and the Chicago Cubs could converge only in the twisted mind of a sports columnist. For those of you under 100 years old, West played the title role in the "Batman" TV series during the 1960s. We'll get back to him in a moment. Sunday morning, Joe Maddon addressed the issue of the Cubs' confidence level in light of their recent struggles. "They're missing their confidence more than anything," the Cubs manager said of his young hitters, but perhaps of his entire team as well. Trust me, I'll connect the dots from these batmen to that "Batman." The Cubs were wavering during the 3 p.m. hour Sunday in Wrigley Field. They came in with a four-game losing streak and in the fifth inning blew an entire 4-0 lead to the Rockies. Whatever air was left on this muggy, 90-plus-degree day was leaking out of the ballpark … and possibly out of the Cubs, too. Ah, but in the sixth inning Addison Russell and Kyle Schwarber hit back-to-back home runs and the Cubs held on for a 7-5 victory. How ironic it was that two young hitters with slumping confidence injected a bit of it back into their team. "It's all about confidence," Maddon reiterated. So what does this have to do with Adam West, who died over the weekend at 88? Only that I wonder whether an actor like West lost his confidence after a bad acting day during his run as Batman.

West wasn't really a superhero, you know. So if he required extra takes to finish a scene one week, he might have wondered whether he could rally the next week or the Joker would get the better of him. I'm thinking, nah, Adam West was a pro's pro who could play over a mistake and come back as Batman at his best. But while athletes are entertainers, they're a different breed from actors. A Sunday earlier, the Cubs were in the process of sweeping the Cardinals and Maddon mentioned that he could see their confidence building. During the subsequent plunge, not so much. "Confidence is such a fragile component of human existence," Maddon said. "Especially when it comes to sports." It must be if the Cubs, of all people, suffer self-doubts. You might remember that the Cubs won the World Series last year. A gaggle of them were 2016 all-stars. The season as a whole should have validated them as winners. Yet, a couple of months into this season -- with the Cubs hovering around .500 or worse -- Maddon finds himself having to monitor his players' mindsets. Like, Jake Arrieta was unlike Jake Arrieta again Sunday. Young Cubs hitters still aren't reliable. The team as a whole is scuffling at 31-31. "It's actually an interesting situation to be involved in," Maddon said. "They need our support." The Cubs were on such a roll last season that they hardly ever thought they wouldn't overcome whatever obstacle was in their way. "Whatever you did in the past," Maddon said, "it's easy to forget that (when you're caught up in what you're trying to accomplish now)." Nobody in the ballpark, on or off the field, was a comic-book hero on this day. There was no Adam West in tights to say, "I'm Batman." A couple of home runs saved the Cubs from a possible deeper crisis of confidence that still will have to be monitored. By the way, that isn't twisted logic. -- Cubs.com Cubs launch four homers to secure finale W By Scott Chasen and Thomas Harding CHICAGO -- After losing an early four-run lead, it was a lift from a pair of players looking to get going themselves that put the Cubs over the top. Addison Russell launched a go-ahead solo shot to left and Kyle Schwarber cranked another deep to right in the sixth inning as the Cubs took the final game against the Rockies, 7-5, Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field to stave off the sweep and snap a seven-game Rockies winning streak. "It was a nice win to get on an airplane to head out of town," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "It's all about confidence, man. As we continue to rebuild their confidence and as they get it back, you're going to see a lot more of that."

Unlike in Game 3, it was the Cubs who pulled ahead from the jump. Anthony Rizzo hit a first-inning RBI double and Ben Zobrist smashed a three-run homer, all before the Cubs made the first out of the game. Starter Jake Arrieta looked like he was poised to hold the lead, but he ran into trouble in the fifth inning, where his day came to an end. Dealing with a small cut on his right thumb, Arrieta loaded the bases in the fifth with no outs, and then walked in a run. He got the first out of the inning, but he would exit after an RBI single from Mark Reynolds. "It was a different game. When you have a lead like that, you don't want to relinquish the lead," said Maddon, who turned to reliever Carl Edwards Jr. to finish off the inning. "The best guy to get a strikeout there was CJ, period. That's it." Edwards gave up a ground-ball single to Ian Desmond for two more runs -- charged to Arrieta -- but he worked through the rest of the inning without a problem. And on a day the Cubs' offense broke out with four home runs, that was enough. Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela battled after allowing the big first inning, though his day was a short one as well. Senzatela worked around runners on the corners with nobody out in the fourth inning -- striking out Arrieta, Jon Jay and Kris Bryant to keep the deficit at 4-0 -- but he was out of the game by the fifth. Before the Zobrist homer in the first, much of the contact made off Senzatela was not solid. "It was not really frustrating," said Senzatela, who must reduce a first-inning ERA that climbed to 7.62. "I just tried to make a good pitch. But I tried to go slider down in the dirt [to Zobrist], but he got me." Of the fourth-inning escape, Rockies manager Bud Black said, "The Bryant at-bat was one of the best at-bats that he threw all year, and it was critical to keep it right there. I was so proud of him, for a young pitcher to hang in there." Jordan Lyles would be next up to pitch, with Chris Rusin likely unavailable after throwing 32 pitches on Friday. Lyles' day was finished after allowing the two solo home runs. Lyles has given up seven home runs in 28 1/3 innings, as opposed to four homers in 58 2/3 innings as a starter and reliever in 2016. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Pitch placement: Arrieta was chased from his outing in the fifth inning after Reynolds' RBI single cut the Rockies' deficit to 4-2 with one out, but that was far from the only eventful moment of the inning. Colorado loaded the bases with no outs after Charlie Blackmon was hit by a low curveball. Initially, there seemed to be some confusion as to whether or not he was hit. The Rockies appealed to the umpires to talk about the play, and after a brief chat, Blackmon was awarded the base. Cubs manager Joe Maddon left the dugout to argue, and he wouldn't be the only one to gripe before the inning was over. "My concern and my argument was, how could anybody out there see that the ball had hit him?" Maddon said. "Although they were right -- because I got the word from our guys that the ball had hit him -- but my argument was how could you change a play from 90 feet away?" The Rockies walked in a run in the next at-bat, then made the first out of the inning, as right fielder Carlos Gonzalez struck out on a called strike three. He turned around and started jawing with home-plate umpire Marvin Hudson and was ejected shortly after. The Rockies would go on to string together two more singles in the inning to tie the game at four. Sneak it in there: Russell's solo home run to put the Cubs up, 5-4, was just his fourth of the year, but it was also a rarity for a completely different reason. According to Statcast™, the shot left the bat with an exit velocity of 98.1 mph and 22-degree launch angle -- his second lowest recorded on a homer. Batted balls with those numbers have ended up as home runs just seven percent of the time in the Statcast™ era, which began in 2015.

"It was pretty big," Russell said. "It feels good to see some success a little bit. Definitely want to bask in it a little bit, but tomorrow's going to be another day." Russell's home run was one of four hit by the Cubs on the day. Zobrist started things with his three-run shot in the first. Russell and Schwarber hit their solo shots in the sixth, while Miguel Montero hit another in the eighth. UPON FURTHER REVIEW Leading off the sixth inning in a game tied at 4, Javier Baez hit a grounder to short and raced down the line to first, appearing to beat out an errant throw by Trevor Story and tag attempt by Reynolds by just an instant. However, the Rockies would challenge the play and after a very quick review it was overturned. Reynolds administered the tag despite Baez trying to duck down as he touched first base. LIKE A SORE THUMB Arrieta pitched Sunday with the cut on his thumb, but he doesn't expect that to be an issue moving forward. The right-hander said he noticed the cut about a week ago, adding he didn't do any throwing between starts just to try to let it heal. "It's close. It's almost completely healed up," Arrieta said. "Just got it to the point where it was tender to the touch. And obviously the friction between my finger and the ball, pitch after pitch, got to a point where it became a little bit of an issue." WHAT'S NEXT Rockies: Lefty Kyle Freeland (7-3, 3.34 ERA), who entered Sunday's play ranking second in the National League in ground-ball rate at 59.3 percent, will start in the opener of a three-game set against the Pirates at PNC Park on Monday at 5:05 p.m. MT on MLB.TV. The game also marks the return of Pirates righty Jameson Taillon (2-1, 3.31 ERA), who is back after missing a little more than a month because of surgery to treat testicular cancer. Cubs: The Cubs will head to New York to begin a four-game set with the Mets at Citi Field, starting Monday at 6:10 p.m. CT on MLB.TV. Cubs righty John Lackey (4-6, 5.12 ERA) will get the ball for the series opener, looking to shrug off his last outing, when he allowed five runs to the Marlins. Lackey is 2-0 with a 2.14 ERA vs. the Mets in five career starts. -- Cubs.com Schwarber: Win a 'positive step' for Cubs By Scott Chasen CHICAGO -- Kyle Schwarber's Sunday workday consistent of one at-bat. It was all he needed to put his stamp on the Cubs' 7-5 win. The slugger came in to pinch-hit after Addison Russell gave the team a one-run lead with a solo shot of his own in the sixth. Schwarber worked the count full while fouling off five pitches in the at-bat before hammering the eventual game-winning run to the back of the bleachers in right. "We were just trying to get a good pitch to hit," Schwarber said. "[Russell] got the hanging breaking ball, and I was able to get a heater down and in. So good at-bats, pretty much the whole day, I thought." By the time Schwarber's bat made contact, it was all over. The blast left the bat with an exit velocity of 103.9 mph, according to Statcast™, and it traveled an estimated 434 feet on its way into the stands.

The homer earned Schwarber a large cheer from the crowd and a curtain call as the Cubs went up, 6-4. They wouldn't need another run from that point on, though Miguel Montero homered in the bottom of the eighth to give the Cubs their seventh of the day. "It was good. A homer's always going to be a homer," Schwarber said of the response. "[To be] in a situation like that, where you can add another insurance run on, you know it's good." Perhaps the most promising sign, though, was for the team. Both Russell and Schwarber entered the game with their own hitting woes, as did the Cubs' offense. During the preceding four-game losing streak, the Cubs had averaged just 2.5 runs per game. Dating back to May 26, a stretch that's seen the team go 6-10, the Cubs have been held to two or fewer runs seven times -- all losses -- while scoring more than five runs just three times. "Our confidence has been nicked a little bit. It happens to everybody," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "But then you rebuild it by maintaining the process." And that's exactly what the Cubs did on Sunday. With the win, the team avoided a four-game sweep at the hand of the Rockies and picked up its pitcher, Jake Arrieta, who was dealing with a small cut on his right hand and lasted only 4 1/3 innings. And if the Cubs have their way, it'll do one more thing -- create a spark that will carry over into the upcoming road trip. "It was a really good win," Schwarber said. "It was definitely a positive step today." -- Cubs.com Cubs looking for more leadoff production By Scott Chasen CHICAGO -- The leadoff spot for the Cubs has been anything but a certainty this year. Kyle Schwarber, who started the year in that spot, entered Sunday hitting just .167 with no hits in his past three games. Ian Happ, whom manager Joe Maddon has also used in that spot, is going through a slump of his own, hitting .132 (7-for-53) since May 23. "It's been inconsistent," Maddon said. "There's no question about that." Even while the leadoff man at most only gets one more plate appearance than the rest of the team, Maddon said it can really set the table for the rest of the lineup. The Cubs haven't had that so far. Happ is hitting .200 on the season when batting at the top of the order, and he is 0-for-6 with two strikeouts to lead off a game. Schwarber has started 36 games as the leadoff hitter. In those first-inning at-bats, he's gotten on base just 10 times. "With Schwarber and Happ, [I'm] primarily looking at their history of getting on base even if they're not getting hits," Maddon said. "The difference with Schwarbs right now is he's just not getting his hits. ... If I was a betting man, I would've said he'd be hitting at least .250 right now, easily, based on history, but he's not." And compounding that problem for the Cubs is that while they try to fix the leadoff issue, the team they're playing is taking advantage of that very thing. Rockies leadoff hitter Charlie Blackmon entered Sunday slashing .417/.500/.722 in nine games in June, and he's recorded multiple hits in seven of those games.

In Saturday's 9-1 win over the Cubs, Blackmon started off the game with a single and scored on the next at-bat. In the series opener on Thursday, he doubled to lead off the game. The Rockies wouldn't score in that inning, but they'd see 24 pitches off Jon Lester, who would last only four more innings. "A lot of times, when that first guy just hits a line drive somewhere, it puts the pitcher on his heels just a little bit. So there's a lot to be gained," Maddon said. "I think you have to look no further than their side right now with what their guy is doing. He's really set the table for that entire team." Still, Maddon said he thinks the answer will come from either Schwarber or Happ. He still may try some other players, like Javier Baez against a left-handed pitcher or Jon Jay just to mix things up, but he said he has faith that eventually the two will get going again. "Happ and Schwarber, based on their ability to accept walks, historically -- primarily for me, based on what we have and how we're set up -- would be the best two candidates," Maddon said. "And as they start hitting, it's going to become more obvious." -- Cubs.com Lackey, Cubs open road trip vs. Mets By Scott Chasen The Cubs let things get away from them at home. Now they'll have to see if they can right the ship on the road. After sweeping the Cardinals, the Cubs crawled to the finish line, missing out on a chance to sweep the Marlins and then dropping the ensuing series to the Rockies. Chicago's offense has struggled mightily during that stretch, though slugger Kris Bryant suggested all it might take is one breakout game to get going. After the Cubs scored seven runs in the series finale win on Sunday, they'll get their first chance to prove they've broken out of that slump Monday evening. Since throwing 15 1/3 innings of one-run ball on May 19 and May 26, Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom (4-3, 4.75 ERA) -- slated to start the series opener at Citi Field -- has lasted just four innings in each of his past two outings while allowing 18 hits, 15 runs and four home runs. For his career, the righty is 1-2 against the Cubs, having allowed 12 earned runs in 20 1/3 regular-season innings. The righty's 5.31 ERA against the Cubs is the second highest ERA he has against any National League team, and it could be exactly what the Cubs' bats need to get going. Right-hander John Lackey (4-6, 5.12 ERA) will get the ball for the North Siders. Things to know about this game • Lackey struggled in his last outing, yielding five runs and two home runs to the Marlins. He's allowed eight home runs in his past five starts. • Mets right fielder Jay Bruce enters the series against the Cubs on an uptick. Bruce began Sunday with four multi-hit games, seven RBIs and three home runs since the start of June 4. However, he hasn't fared well against Lackey in the past, hitting just .172 off the right-hander in 29 career at-bats. • The series opener against the Cubs will start a stretch of 14 straight games for the Mets against teams that made the postseason in 2016. They'll play the first seven games at home against the Cubs and Nationals before going on the road for series against the Dodgers and Giants. • Looking at Cubs left fielder Kyle Schwarber's expected weighted on-base average (xwOBA, based on exit velocity and launch angle, stripping out impact of luck and defense) of .340 and his actual .289 weighted on-base average, it appears there's been some bad luck involved in his slow start to the season. Of 208 MLB hitters with at least 150

at-bats so far this season, Schwarber is one of 12 with a differential between xwOBA and actual wOBA of .040 or more. By comparison, Schwarber's wOBA in 2015 (69 games) was .365. -- CSNChicago.com Anthony Rizzo's 'Throwback' Approach At The Plate Setting The Tone For Cubs By Tony Andracki It's becoming tougher and tougher to tell Anthony Rizzo and Joey Votto apart. Joe Maddon has seen a bit of Votto in Rizzo for years and that has never been the case more than the first couple months of the 2017 season. The Cincinnati Reds first baseman has led the league in walks four times and on-base percentage five times. Rizzo has yet to accomplish either feat in his seven-year career, but he's taken his offensive profile to Votto levels this season. Votto is the only player in baseball with a better walk-to-strikeout ratio among qualified hitters. Rizzo has 39 walks compared to only 31 strikeouts, on pace for 102 free passess and 81 whiffs, both of which would easily surpass his previous career bests (78 walks, 105 strikeouts). Since May 19 — a span of 89 plate appearances — Rizzo has struck out just five times while drawing 14 walks and posting a .438 on-base percentage. That's a stark contrast to the changes baseball has seen over the last couple years where strikeouts are at an all-time high as everybody focuses on exit velocity and hitting the ball in the air. Gone are the days where almost every guy choked up on the bat and tried to shorten his swing with two strikes to just put the ball in play. "He takes it seriously," Maddon said. "He definitely is a throwback when it comes to that method. I think it's beautiful. Him and Votto within our division probably do that as well as anybody I've seen over the last several years. "Really adapting to the count and not trying to do too much in the count. Literally taking what the pitcher is giving you at that point." That approach helped the Cubs Sunday as Rizzo keyed the charge to bust out of their losing streak and offensive slump with a first-inning double on the 10th pitch of an at-bat against Antonio Senzatela. Rizzo got down in the count (1-2) before choking up and shortening up, fouling off four of the next six pitches before he got one he liked, depositing it into the right-field corner and giving the Cubs a much-needed lead and breath of fresh air. He nearly accomplished the same thing Saturday when he reached out and blooped a two-strike pitch into shallow left field, bumping Kris Bryant to third base with only one out, but the Cubs failed to cash in on that scoring opportunity. Maddon would like to see more Cubs players follow in Rizzo's footsteps, especially given the Cubs' offensive struggles this season. Rizzo has already seemingly had an impact on Bryant — the reigning National League MVP — who has cut down on his strikeouts for the second straight season and is now walking more than ever. "There's nothing wrong with choking up," Maddon said. "There's nothing wrong with shortening up. There's nothing with making adaptations during an at-bat in order to move the baseball. That's all appropriate. It's good.

"I love the fact that either the best or the second-best hitter on the team does those things. Even to the point where I love when minor-league guys watch him within our organization and hopefully wanna emulate him. "It's a mindset, man. It's something that you have to be willing to do — understand it, understand why you're doing it. It was really a big part of the fabric of the game for a while among many players in the lineup. Now, it's just a couple guys that are able to do it." -- CSNChicago.com 'Anger Is Not A Solution' For Cubs' Struggles By Tony Andracki There was an air of "Groundhog's Day" around the Cubs before Sunday's game against the Colorado Rockies. Nobody would blame Joe Maddon if he said he felt like Bill Murray from that hit film. In a lot of ways, it's the same story, different day for the 2017 Cubs. Maddon fielded question after question from the media about the leadoff spot — a new option was in there Sunday in veteran outfielder Jon Jay, who promptly singled in his first at-bat — and how to get past the offensive woesm, particularly with the young hitters. The Cubs manager was as patient as ever, despite his team entering Sunday's game with a streak of 26 straight innings without an extra-base hit and leaving 31 men on base over the last four games. "We've pitched well enough to win more. We've played defense well enough to win more. We've been inconsistent with the offense," Maddon said. "That's the part we have to focus on. And when your guys are struggling like that, the point is you gotta stay with 'em. "It takes a lot of conversation. It takes a lot to help bring them back confidence-wise. They're missing their confidence right now more than anything. But anger is not a solution. Seat of the pants decisions are not a solution, either. "These are our guys and I believe in these guys. They are good. They're gonna show it again relatively soon. We're struggling right now back and forth, but this is a great group of major-league players." Maddon has a way of being brutally honest without being overly negative or sounding the least bit insulting. He hasn't sugarcoated anything through the Cubs' offensive woes and knows they have to improve their consistency all around, pointing to a roller coaster last month that has included: A 7-2 homestand, an 0-6 road trip, a five-game winning streak and now a four-game losing streak entering Sunday. The result is a 30-31 record for the defending World Series champions, but they're also still somehow in second place in the National League Central, just two games behind the Milwaukee Brewers. And that's with veterans Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist posting numbers below their career norms, consistent struggles from Kyle Schwarber, Willson Contreras and Addison Russell and up-and-down contributions from streak young hitters like Ian Happ, Javy Baez and Albert Almora Jr. The only constants on offense have been Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Miguel Montero and Jay, which explains why Maddon had all four veterans in Sunday's lineup in an effort to salvage at least one game from the visiting Rockies. Maddon and his coaching staff are trying to make sure they're not overwhelming the young hitters with too much information, especially since "Uber drives have been telling them how to hit right now."

From Maddon's perspective, it's all about confidence. "Confidence is such a fragile component of the human existence, especially when it comes to sports," Maddon said. "Regardless of what you've done in the past, it's so easy to forget that because you're really trying to do well in the present. "And sometimes when things just aren't going properly and they start happening too quickly, all the sudden, you lose whatever that little thing is that permits you to slow things down and maintain your confidence. We're all subject to that. Every one of us. "Our job as coaches right now is to understand that and try to nurture that back into our players. It has to come from their performance, absolutely. But in the mean time, they need our support and they need our consistency. They don't need inconsistencies coming from us right now because that would be the worst possible message to send them. "I've been through it before. It's actually an interesting situation to be involved in. It tests what you believe in, which I think is a good thing. You have to have a consistent plan while maintaining flexibility at the same time, which I think we do." -- Chicago Tribune Cubs refine pitching model for Monday's amateur draft By Mark Gonzales The seemingly endless scouting reports and mock drafts are just part of the process that Jason McLeod and his staff have invested in as they prepare for the Cubs’ 27th and 30th overall picks in Monday night’s amateur draft. “This will be our sixth draft,” Jason McLeod, the Cubs’ senior vice president of scouting and player development, said Wednesday. “You’re always learning from what you did prior. I look back at our reports and player development plans we put in place for those guys. You’re always wanting to improve and be better in your decision making and your player development process. I feel now we’ll look for something more specific.” McLeod added the Cubs have analyzed the body types and repertoires of their pitchers drafted in the past five years. That’s an intriguing development. Pierce Johnson of Missouri State and left-hander Rob Zastryzny of Missouri, who were the first pitchers selected by the Cubs in the 2012 and 2013 drafts, are the only two homegrown pitchers to have reached the majors (2013 10th round pick Zack Godley has made 43 appearances with the Arizona Diamondbacks following his trade for Miguel Montero before the 2015 season). McLeod said the lack of pitchers drafted and developed to the majors stems from under-performance and extra time needed for high school pitchers selected in the second to fourth rounds. The Cubs have received some encouraging results from pitchers at the lower levels, such as Adbert Alzolay, Justin Steele, Oscar De La Cruz, Dylan Cease and Duncan Robinson, but pitching remains paramount because of the need for depth and for trade chips. So expect the Cubs to be creative throughout the draft, as McLeod alluded to potentially drafting a college reliever with starting pitching potential. “Pitching does come from all over the draft,” McLeod said. “However, your dominant starting pitching comes from the top of the draft.” Last June, multiple sources said the Cubs placed several eyes on pitcher Mitchell White, who rarely pitched at Bellarmine Prep in San Jose, Calif., missed all of his freshman year at Santa Clara University because of Tommy

John surgery but rebounded as a closer his sophomore season and emerged as the Broncos’ Friday night starter and possessing a fastball in the mid-90 mph range last spring. White was projected as a fourth or fifth round pick, but the Los Angeles Dodgers took White in the second round in what was initially perceived as an under-slot, pre-arranged deal. But White has struck out 79 in 60 2/3 innings to go with a 2.37 ERA in 20 professional appearances since signing. The volatility of the draft – fromsignability issues to medical concerns to college commitments – will keep the Cubs on their toes leading up to their first two picks. But the debates about certain players will be settled by the time the Cubs make their first pick – with President Theo Epstein making the call. “He has the final say on everything in the organization,” McLeod said of all baseball matters. But McLeod added that there is no scrambling after a thorough process in which Epstein may be challenging amateur scouting director Matt Dorey or him over a certain player, or McLeod testing a scout’s conviction in a player. “We’re already prepared for it,” McLeod said. -- Chicago Tribune Cubs offense wakes up to snap 4-game skid By Paul Skrbina Neither Addison Russell nor Kyle Schwarber can go from Point A to Point B without someone offering them batting advice. "I'm certain Uber drivers have been telling them how to hit," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Sunday before both socked critical home runs in the Cubs' 7-5 victory against the Rockies. "That's how it works." The young, struggling players put to use whatever advice they have heeded during a pivotal sixth inning as the Cubs climbed back to even at 31-31. They hit back-to-back homers to help the Cubs end their losing streak at four and the Rockies' winning streak at seven. Russell last week was accused by a third party of committing domestic violence against his wife, which he denied and Major League Baseball said it plans to investigate. He entered Sunday's game with a .207 batting average. "It feels good to see some success," Russell said. "I definitely want to bask in it a little bit, but tomorrow's another day." At the urging of his teammates, not to mention many of the 41,166 sweating in the stands, Schwarber briefly basked in his after giving the Cubs a 6-4 lead. The .171 hitter, who did not start the game, reemerged from the dugout for a curtain call after his 434-foot pinch-hit homer — the first of his career — followed Russell's go-ahead blast. Schwarber's will go down in baseball annals as the winning run because the Rockies, who erased the Cubs' four-run first with a dizzying four-run fifth, scored once more in the ninth inning after Miguel Montero added an insurance home run for the Cubs in the eighth. The Cubs began their half of the first inning Sunday with four consecutive hits and managed 12 overall, one shy of the combined total they had during the first three games.

Anthony Rizzo's double sent Jon Jay scurrying home for the first. Ben Zobrist deposited one over the wall in right to score Rizzo and Kris Bryant, staking starter Jake Arrieta to a 4-0 lead. The team's two extra-base hits in the inning were one more than it had during the first three games of the series. "Our offense really came up big for us," Arrieta said. "I was feeling good about the lead at that point." After flirting with disaster in the fourth, when the Rockies put runners on first and third with one out, Arrieta tempted fate a few too many times in the fifth, when a double, a single, two walks and a hit batter led to his undoing. Arrieta walked former Cub DJ LeMahieu on four pitches to force home the Rockies' first run. Mark Reynolds singled home another to send Arrieta to the showers with Rockies occupying every base and one out. "Not happy with the result from an individual standpoint, but (Miguel) Montero's homer, Schwarber's homer, Addison's home run to put us in the lead … really put us at the point where we could have (Wade) Davis come in and seal the deal," Arrieta said. Which wouldn't have been possible Sunday without Zobrist, Russell, Schwarber or Montero. A fact not lost on Schwarber, who a little more than a week ago embraced the patience he has been shown despite his struggles. "It's easy to kick a guy to the curb, seeing the numbers like that," he said of his own. "It has been a big support system with the fans, to the players, to our manager, to our coaching staff, front office, everything. … They're all here to pick us up, and that's how our team is." -- Chicago Tribune Jake Arrieta says cut on thumb won't affect next start By Paul Skrbina Jake Arrieta fiddled with his bandage-covered right thumb Sunday, a couple of hours after his early exit from the Cubs' 7-5 victory Sunday against the Rockies. The right-hander said he suffered a cut there about a week ago, and that it hadn't fully healed despite him not picking up a baseball since his last start. Arrieta lasted just 4 1/3 innings and left with the bases loaded and his team up by two. He said he doesn't expect the cut to affect his next start. "It just got to point where it was really sensitive," he said. "The friction between my finger and the ball, every pitch it got to the point where I wasn't able to execute the way I'd like." Arrieta's thumb wasn't the only place friction could be found in the fifth. Cubs manager Joe Maddon's ire was up when an Arrieta wild pitch was ruled to have hit Charlie Blackmon, loading the bases, after plate umpire Marvin Hudson originally ruled the ball hadn't touched Blackmon. At the behest of Rockies manager Bud Black, the umpires met and awarded Blackmon first, which drew a demonstrative Maddon from the dugout. "My argument was how could anybody out there see that the ball had hit him?" Maddon said. "They were right, (but) how can you change a play from 90 feet away?"

After Arrieta walked DJ LeMahieu to force home the Rockies' first run, right fielder Carlos Gonzalez was ejected by Hudson for arguing a called third strike. Still perfect: Cubs closer Wade Davis allowed his third earned run in 23 appearances spanning 22 1/3 innings Sunday, but he stayed perfect in save conversions with his 13th in a row. That tied the team record for consecutive saves to start a season, set in 1993 by Randy Myers. Davis has a 1.21 ERA and has allowed 11 hits while striking out 31. Hit the road: After going 6-4 on their homestand, the Cubs will be on the road for 17 of their next 20 games. Though Maddon said there's no place like home, a change of scenery will be welcome. "That's the nice ebb and flow of the season," he said. "When you're gone for a little bit you can't wait to get back home and vice versa." --