ST.LOUIS -- Chicago Cubs reliever Pedro Strop insists Busch Stadium isn’t getting to him, though he continued to struggle here after giving up a crucial two-run home run in the eighth inning of Game 1 of the National League Division Series between the Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals.
“It’s just happening,” Strop said after the Cardinals' 4-0 victory.
Strop served up the home run to Stephen Piscotty, the second he’s given up to the Cardinals at Busch in just 2⅔ innings this season. Overall, he’s given up a whopping eight hits and five walks in that span, and actually saw his ERA at Busch fall (to 27.07) after Friday's appearance. He has no answers for his struggles against the Cardinals.
“I feel real comfortable on that mound,” Strop said. “It’s a good mound. Last year I pitched well in this ballpark. This year has been a little rough.”
Are the Cardinals in his head?
“No, God bless,” he responded. “I’m just going to do my thing.”
In-game decisions: Down 1-0 in the top of the eighth inning, Cubs manager Joe Maddon chose to let Chris Coghlan stay in to hit against lefty Kevin Siegrist though he had righties Javier Baez, Jorge Soler and Chris Denorfia available.
“Siegrist is much better against righties than lefties,” Maddon explained. “He's just good, but he's better against righties than lefties. [Closer Trevor] Rosenthal is better against lefties than righties.”
That might be true, but Coghlan had only 43 at-bats this season against lefties, compiling a .116 average. Maddon used Soler in the ninth against the right-handed Rosenthal and he drew a walk, but the Cubs were down 4-0 by then.
Did Maddon make the correct moves there even though they didn’t work out?
Rizzo, Bryant struggle: The postseason's first two games haven't been kind to Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, with each going 0-for-7 with three strikeouts. Rookie Bryant has hit a couple of balls hard, but after being a tough double-play candidate in the regular season, he’s hit into two in two playoffs games. Kyle Schwarber has provided the bulk of the Cubs' offense so far, going 4-for-6, but the Cubs will need more from their MVP candidates.
