Cubs make 17 points against the Pirates at Wrigley Field

CHICAGO – Joe Maddon, the Cubs coach, did not like the calm that prevailed Thursday in the San Diego canoe. There was a noticeable lack of intensity – the genre naturally helped in the noisy environment of Wrigley Field – so the manager wanted to get a

CHICAGO – Joe Maddon, the Cubs coach, did not like the calm that prevailed Thursday in the San Diego canoe. There was a noticeable lack of intensity – the guy naturally helped in the raucous environment of Wrigley Field – so the manager wanted to get a message to his players.

"We have to create our own energy," said Maddon. "And if you want to be stuck about things, guys, we will not play long."

• The score of the box

Friday afternoon, the Cubs were full of energy, reaching a record of the season in the fifth inning and keeping the foot on the accelerator to face a defeat 17-8 Pirates in the opening of a match crucial. Homestand of 10 games. Anthony Rizzo launched a grand slam and Willson Contreras conceded two goals at the head of a five-circuit attack for the North Siders, who still have 15 games to play to win their ticket for October.

With this win, the Cubs stayed in four Cardinals games, which led the Brewers 10-0 on Friday night. Chicago is currently playing in Milwaukee for second place in the NL Wild Card category and 2.5 games for the Nationals.

"There is a lot going on there," Contreras said. "The race is pretty tight, so a lot of people are starting to say things about the Cubs, about it, we just have to go out and have fun, you can not put that stuff in your head, because that they will pick you up and then you will start playing with the pressure. "

The defeat was rich in offensive strengths:

• Rizzo's Grand Slam against left-handed Steven Brault, Pirates, in the third inning, scored the tenth slam of the year's Cubs club record in one season. Rizzo, who has five grand slams in his career, had two in 1919. Only the Astros (11) have more major tournaments in the Majors this year.

• Rookie Nico Hoerner launched his first career circuit in the first round of Brault and the short stop finished the day with four RBIs. Hoerner is the first Cubs player to have played multiple times since at least 1908 with at least four RBIs in his first five career games.

• Nicholas Castellanos He crowned a two-run circuit that gave him eight shots in the first run since he joined the Cubs and 12 first this season. Only Eugenio Suarez (14) has even more such explosions this year. Castellanos also scored his 50th double of 19 in fifth. He is the first player to have at least 25 homers and 50 doubles in one season since 2007 (Magglio Ordonez and Matt Holliday).

• The Cubs scored seven points with two outs in fifth, but only as a result of Maddon's successful managerial challenge. Kris Bryant was ruled out on too short a court, but the call was overturned after the replay and he received a single infield. The Cubs then had six hits, a walk and a batter hit in the next eight games.

• The five circuits of the match allowed the Cubs to break the franchise record in one season for home runs (235 in 2004).

• Chicago leads the NL with 19 games this season with at least 10 points scored.

As the Cubs beat the Padres 4-1 on Thursday, the win ended a 3-to-5 trip that helped the Brewers to tie Chicago in the Wild Card standings on Friday. Back in the comfort of home, where the Cubs are 48-24 this year, Maddon said it's time for his team to take a more streamlined approach.

"Go ahead and play," Maddon said before Friday's game. "I do not want too much preparation – I do not want more swings – I do not want more info – I do not want more audio, video, whatever – just play baseball all "It's all our guys have to do." "Play hard." Before you go, fire your hair and see what happens. "

After the victory, Maddon laughed when asked if there was enough hair on fire for the Pirates.

"You know how badly the hair smells when they're on fire?" This stinking hiding place today, man. "It was great," Maddon said. "That's what I meant, that's what I expected from our guys today, and we've seen it." I want to believe that it will continue. "

The final result against the Pirates buried a top of the first that seemed to convey what Maddon had discussed during his pre-match conversation with reporters. The manager said his main concern with his players was that they were playing tight. Then Chicago came out and made two mistakes in one game, helping Pittsburgh to qualify for the first game in four innings Jon Lester.

These first missteps were erased by the first of five points, propelled by circuits of Castellanos, Contreras and Hoerner.

"Strangely, I was waiting for that answer, I have been," Maddon said. "I really thought that, given the circumstances, the level of energy was excellent, and then, respond as quickly as we did …"

"Oh man, it's huge," Lester nodded.

Lester also supported Maddon's assessment that the team had been too tense recently.

"We all try too hard sometimes," said Lester. "I'm guilty of that, I think everyone in this club is guilty, you want to win the game even before the game is played, that's part of the chore of playing 162 games. I think a game like today can help guys to relax a bit. "