Long comfortable setting records for futility, the Chicago Cubs accomplished a feat not seen since June of 1988, getting shut out by the New York Yankees in both games of a doubleheader.
MLB roundup: Masahiro Tanaka’s debut streak, Cubs shut out in both legs of doubleheader
Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Game one featured recent import Masahiro Tanaka spinning eight innings of two-hit baseball, whiffing 10 batters and walking only one. This was the third straight game in which Tanaka completed at least seven innings, struck out eight or more, marking him as the first pitcher to start his career in such fashion. Temporary closer Shawn Kelley finished the Cubs off for his fourth save as Carlos Beltran was the difference maker, blasting a solo home run in the first inning.
Cubs starter Jason Hammel was solid, striking out five and allowing three earned runs in seven innings, as the Cubs could only manage three hits behind him. Anthony Rizzo accounted for two of those three hits, raising his season average to .333, following game one.
The nightcap saw Cubs starter Travis Wood work around 11 hits in 5⅔ to allow only two runs, as Beltran was once again at the center of the action with two more hits, including a double. Alfonso Soriano, Ichiro and Scott Sizemore each added two hits of their own. Yankees starter Michael Pineda shut down the Cubs, allowing four hits over six solid frames, striking out three and issuing one walk. The game was finished off by David Phelps, Matt Thornton and Adam Warren, who earned his first save on the season.
Springer makes debut
One of the top prospects in all of baseball, George Springer made his debut on Wednesday night, going 1-4 with an infield single, and a run scored.
The Astros wasted no time welcoming Springer to the "damn it, Astros" culture with this gem:
Gerorge is definetly my favorite player on teh Astors pic.twitter.com/aEJXVBUPf4
— Tyler Stafford (@JeffBlogwell) April 17, 2014 Here’s wishing only good things for Gerorge going forward.
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