CLEVELAND -- The Chicago Cubs beat the Cleveland Indians 17-0 on Wednesday night. Here's a quick look at the game.
How it happened: The Cubs took batting practice at 7:00 pm local time instead of 5:00 as they pounded Indians starter Shaun Marcum and two relievers for 12 hits in the first three innings of the game while taking a 10-0 lead. Kyle Schwarber drove in the first run of the game with a triple in the second inning and then added an RBI single in the third. Addison Russell hit a 2-run shot as did Anthony Rizzo, all part of a 6-run second. Chris Denorfia hit a 3-run shot in a 4-run third inning after singling home a run in the second as well. On the mound Tsuyoshi Wada got out of a mini-jam in the first inning then pitched well earning his first win of the season. The Cubs added to the lead with seven more in the ninth inning off of position players Ryan Raburn and David Murphy as Kris Bryant hit a grand slam to cap the night.
What it means: The Cubs had it going at the plate to get them back to a season high 7 games over .500 as every player in the starting lineup had at least one hit. Maybe just as important was Wada's stint on the mound. Yes, he was handed a huge lead but he never let up, even getting through the Indians lineup several times. That's been his downfall in the past but there was no tiring in the mid-innings for Wada this time as he lasted seven innings giving up just four hits. The Cubs needed that performance from him after getting a stellar one from their offense.
Yoervis Medina pitched the final two innings in making his Cubs debut without allowing a base runner.
Schwarber's night: The Cubs rookie earned a rare triple as his first major league hit then followed that up with a run-scoring single, a double play grounder and then two more base hits including a ninth inning infield dribbler he beat out off of outfielder Raburn. He looked every bit as comfortable as he did in spring training collecting hits off of four different players and four different pitches including a 79 mph changeup for his first career hit and RBI. Schwarber arrived in dramatic fashion though the Cubs have been steadfast in their plan to send him back down to the minors at the end of the week.
Offensive output: The Cubs collected 18 hits in setting a season high as was the 17 runs while Denorfia's 4 RBIs were a career high. Bryant extended a hitting streak to 13 games with a sixth inning single before hitting his eighth home run of the year, while Rizzo broke a 0-for-20 streak with his home run.
What's next: The finale of the series takes place on Thursday night when Jason Hammel (5-2, 2.81) takes on Danny Salazar (6-2, 3.54).
