The unsung hero of the Cubs' win over the Brewers in 15 innings



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In their 2-1 win against the Brewers on Saturday, the Cubs teamed up with Milwaukee for ten doubles and the longest ever Cubs-Brewers game at Wrigley Field. And the winning homer of Willson Contreras who landed on Waveland Avenue was the third walk-in game that the Cubs hit this week.

There are many levels to win in any baseball game, and even more in the 15-lap game. Among these layers, there is evidence, things like Cole Hamels who launched 7 innings in one go and David Bote who scored on a toboggan El Mago at home, but there is also the Pitch performance of Tyler Chatwood, who launched the last four rounds of Saturday's game. .

"You are not very well placed when you arrive late to a game.You can not afford to give up the points, and he answers the call," Hamels told Chatwood. after the game.

When Chatwood was called in the 12th inning, the Brewers already had Christian Yelich on first base with no players missing and the match was tied 1-1. Chatwood responded by forcing Jesus Aguilar to play a double game and then eliminating the hitter Ryan Braun. Chatwood had no room for error, and he walked the tightrope for four innings. Along the way, Chatwood dropped seven batters, walked three, and did not give up.

Even in places where the unstable control that had cost him his rotational position in 2018 seemed to be backing down, Chatwood adjusted and exited the sleeve.

"This order is getting better and you'll always get out of the box from time to time, but you can get it back," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said at the end of the match. "And dude, it's electric stuff."

In the 13th inning, Chatwood walked with both Travis Shaw and Orlando Arcia, but also mixed in with two shots, including letting Eric Thames watch his fast 150 km / h for a third shot to end the frame. .

"Chatwood, unbelievable, I mean, this guy has been amazing these past two weeks, he's going there, he's just hitting hard," said Bote. "He launches 95, 98 with this curved ball and this slider, with starting stuff, so being able to do that is awesome."

Even though the grounds accumulated in the cold drizzle that covered Wrigley throughout the afternoon and until early in the evening, Chatwood stated that he had decided to stay on the mound as long as it takes. He did not know how close he was to the end, said Chatwood, but he was determined that Maddon would not be forced to call on anyone else. "I'll go for as long as I can," Chatwood told him.

It is too early in the season to call this story of Chatwood's takeover, but he must get closer. Last year was disastrous, but Chatwood did everything possible to forget about it.

"I knew something was wrong and I was fighting myself," Chatwood said of his 2018 season.

Although he feels good physically and mentally, says Chatwood, things were just not going well.

"Last year, I knew I had not lost my stuff, I did not have a good year, but my stuff was still there. I had some of my best things, I just could not throw them over the plate, "Chatwood said. "So I came back, I refocused myself and worked on stuff, obviously, right now, I see the benefits."

Hamels, who had apparently acquired Chatwood's place in the rotation at the end of last season, was not complimentary not only for what Chatwood did on Saturday, but also for all that it took for lead him to this point.

"You have to give him credit because what happened last year and where he was entering this season," said Hamels. "He has some great stuff, some of the best stuff I've ever seen, he has some amazing things that you have to attribute to him as a type of credit, because he attacks, and you see him." you see what he's capable of doing. "

After Saturday's game, Maddon said the Chatwood shots were improving as he advanced. Through fatigue, Chatwood was not trying to do too much, Maddon said. The extra games can turn the otherwise disciplined hitters into big swingers, so that win can go back to the pitchers who keep running. In Saturday 's win, Chatwood was able to do that and give Contreras a chance to leap onto a faulty field of Brewers' replacement, Burch Smith, in the 15th inning.

Chatwood's performance in the win was another step forward to becoming the kind of pticher fan that the Cubs hoped to see signed before the 2018 season. And he feels it.

"I told you in the spring that I felt good. I have worked a lot, "Chatwood said. "So this year, I am having fun and enjoying it now."

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