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Nationals sweep virtual Cubs

4 years agoAndy Martinez

What started as a strong start to a week away from Wrigley Field, quickly turned into a road trip to forget for the virtual Cubs.

After sweeping the Orioles in a two-game series, things quickly fell for the virtual Cubs. The offense struggled and the pitching staff labored against the Nationals. While Yu Darvish and the pitching staff was better in the series finale against the defending World Series champions, the offensive woes continued.

The Cubs struggled to string together timely hits and didn’t have much success against Max Scherzer or the Nationals bullpen, dropping the series finale 2-1 in 14 innings and getting swept by the Nationals in our 2020 season simulation on MLB The Show 20. The Cubs fell to 13-9 and dropped to a half game behind the Reds in the NL Central. The Cubs have Monday off before hosting the red-hot Padres, who have won 9 of their last 10 and are 14-7.

Early on, the Cubs looked like they’d have some success on the dominant Scherzer. Kyle Schwarber drove in Javy Báez on an RBI double in the 1st to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead. It was Schwarber’s team-leading 16th RBI of the season.

But the Nationals found success against Yu Darvish, who had been stellar in his own right thus far. Juan Soto drove in Adam Eaton on an RBI double in the bottom of the first. It was only the 5th earned run Darvish had allowed in 34 innings of work.

After the first though, Darvish and Scherzer settled into a groove. The two pitchers were nearly untouchable throughout. Darvish finished the day with 8 strikeouts on 3 hits and 2 walks in 6 innings of work. Scherzer pitched 7 innings, striking out 10 and allowing just 2 hits and 3 walks.

The Cubs seemed to have gotten to the Nationals bullpen in the 8th. They got a pair of runners on base but couldn’t bring in the go-ahead run. It became a reoccurring theme. In the 9th, the Cubs again put a pair on, but couldn’t drive in a run.

In the 11th, Jason Heyward had an infield hit and Ian Happ walked to put runners on with one out. But, Victor Caratini flew out to right and Jason Kipnis struck out to end the threat.

Eric Thames played the role of heartbreaker for the virtual Cubs, ripping a walk-off home run to left field off Jeremy Jeffress. Thames had a big series against the Cubs, collecting 2 home runs and 4 RBI.

José Quintana will try and right the ship for the virtual Cubs as they face San Diego at Wrigley Field on Tuesday at 1 p.m. on Marquee Sports Network’s Facebook. The Padres sit in second in the NL West, a half-game behind the Dodgers.

Cubs

Anthony Rizzo – 1B
Javy Báez – SS
Kyle Schwarber – LF
Willson Contreras – C
Jason Heyward – RF
Ian Happ – CF
David Bote – 3B
Jason Kipnis – 2B
Yu Darvish – P

Nationals

Trea Turner – SS
Adam Eaton – CF
Howie Kendrick – 2B
Juan Soto – LF
Eric Thames – RF
Starlin Castro – 3B
Ryan Zimmerman – 1B
Yan Gomes – C
Max Scherzer – P

Catch the full game here:

https://www.facebook.com/WatchMarquee/videos/172248640599002/

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