Javier Assad, Mark Leiter Jr. show their importance to Cubs’ pitching staff in win
Raise your hand if you had Mark Leiter Jr. and Javier Assad as two of the central figures for the Cubs’ pitching staff to open the year.
Sunday in Seattle the duo showed why they’re exactly that.
Assad turned in another solid outing, keeping the Cubs in the game and Leiter worked out of a no-out jam with just 2 pitches as the Cubs beat the Mariners 3-2 in dramatic fashion and took 2 of 3 in Seattle.
After twirling another strong outing, the Mariners looked poised to spoil another Assad start. With 2 outs in the 6th, Jorge Polanco hit a 2-run home run to bring Seattle within a run. Yency Almonte picked up the final out of the frame, but then in the 7th, hit Dylan Moore and walked Mitch Garver to put the tying run in scoring position.
“I was upset a bit because it’s the second time it happened,” Assad said. “The work is the same, but we have to finish strong. Those little details, I know it’s only one pitch, but we have to adjust that to finish stronger.”
Manager Craig Counsell turned to Leiter, already his most-trusted reliever in leverage situations, to put out the fire. Leiter showed why Counsell consistently turns to him in those moments.
The righty needed just a 91-mph sinker to induce a flyout from Cal Raleigh and an 84-mph splitter to Luke Raley to force an inning-ending double play that left Leiter pumped when he walked off the mound.
“It’s the ‘Leit Show,'” closer Adbert Alzolay said with a smile.
Counsell has been lauded for his ability to maximize his bullpen and Leiter’s effectiveness allows him to use the righty as an X-factor whenever he pleases.
Welcome to the Leit Show! pic.twitter.com/0AaXLoh9kX
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The Cubs’ fifth starter to open the season, Assad — along with rookie Shota Imanaga — has proven to be their most dependable starter. He came within an out of recording his second quality start of the season, scattering just 2 runs in 5.2 innings with 6 strikeouts a walk and 4 hits.
“It’s in my mechanics,” Assad said. “I feel like that has definitely helped me stay consistent in my outings, for sure.”
Assad’s 16.2 innings are the most by a Cubs starter this season and his 2.16 ERA is second on the team behind Imanaga.
As Spring Training neared an end, Assad’s spot in the rotation was far from a certainty. Competing with Drew Smyly and Jordan Wicks for the final two spots, Assad’s ability to start and pitch in relief made it seem like he could be destined to open the season as the team’s swingman.
Instead, he was named as the Cubs’ fifth starter, took the opportunity and has sprinted with it. As the Cubs near full strength with the return from injury for Jameson Taillon and Justin Steele, Assad again made his case to not only remain in the rotation but as a mainstay in it.
The Cubs offense did enough to back up the pitching staff, too.
Seiya Suzuki doubled in the 1st inning and then scored on an infield single by Cody Bellinger that was thrown away by pitcher Luis Castillo. Michael Busch homered for the 4th straight game, Sunday’s a 2-run shot in the 4th inning.
“You hit homers in 4 straight games, you don’t say that very often about anybody,” Counsell said. “A first-year player to do it, really driving the bus for offensively the last few days.”
After Leiter’s Houdini act in the 7th, Héctor Neris provided his own ability to escape a jam — a self-induced one. Neris walked the bases loaded with 1 out, then got an inning-ending double-play from Ty France to preserve the Cubs’ lead.
In the 9th, Alzolay struck out the first two hitters, then allowed a single to Raleigh. But Alzolay showed a quick step, picking off pinch runner Julio Rodríguez after a video review to end the game.