In today’s Braves-Cubs game (which I was at, by the way), the Cubs pulled off a feat that only one other team in major league history has: they walked zero times, struck out 18 times, and won the game. The Cubs only got runs in the sixth and seventh innings, thanks to a bullpen implosion from Atlanta. There was another odd quirk in the sixth inning. Braves rookie reliever Arodys Vizcaino managed to strike out three in 2/3 of an inning, thanks to a pair of wild pitches. When it rains, it pours I guess.
But as for the historical significance of today’s game. The only other time this has happened was in 1997, when the A’s beat the Mariners 4-1 despite Randy Johnson throwing a complete game with 19 strikeouts and no walks. That game featured one of Mark McGwire’s final home runs as a member of the A’s, but overall, Johnson’s dominance was the story out of the game.
There was no big story from today’s game in Atlanta. Coming into the game, most of the focus was on Dan Uggla’s 33 game hitting streak and Brian McCann’s return from the DL. Neither player got a hit in the game. Four players had three hit games though, including three Cubs – Darwin Barney, Aramis Ramirez, and Marlon Byrd. Michael Bourn of the Braves also had three hits, and a pair of stolen bases.
Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how good your command of the strike zone is. The Cubs won the game despite awful discipline and four errors in the field, thanks to 12 hits, only one of which had gone for extra bases. It was a game that the Cubs didn’t deserve to win at all…yet, they did. Sometimes, when you’re hot, all the balls fall in your favor.
