CINCINNATI – Seven pitches into Sunday’s game you just knew it was going to be a good one for the Chicago Cubs. The Cincinnati Reds had flexed their muscles the night before finally beating the visitors, 13-5, for the first time in six tries this season.
But the Cubs don't lose back-to-back games, at least not this year so far, so when fill-in lead-off man Tommy La Stella – Joe Maddon calls him 3 am – worked the count full after starting 1-2 he had already done his job by seeing some pitches. When he doubled on the next pitch then scored on the next one – a single by Jason Heyward – the Cubs were off and running while Reds starter Alfredo Simon was in big trouble.