Steele shuts down Cards, Cubs' bats explode for 9-1 win in London
During the buildup to the Cubs' two-game set against the Cardinals in London, there were those who expected a video-game like explosion on the scoreboard.
"If the 2019 London Series results are any indication of what might transpire this go 'round," wrote the Sporting News, "fans in Great Britain are in for a treat as 50 combined runs came across home plate (in two contests). Plenty of runs are expected in Game 1 on Saturday."
Apparently, Justin Steele didn't get that memo because the Cubs' starter retired 12 of the first 13 Cardinals hitters and ended up yielding just 1 run in 6 innings during his team's 9-1 victory.
"I felt every fan with me," Steele told Fox Sports in the dugout. "(I) honestly felt like everybody was out there on the mound with me. It was really cool. It was something I'll never forget."
Meanwhile, the Cubs' offense stayed red hot, pounding out 11 hits - including a pair of solo HRs by Ian Happ - off St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright.
The Cubs led 2-0 after two innings then plated 3 more runs in the third, with all the damage being done with two outs. Christopher Morel, Yan Gomes and Nick Madrigal - the Nos. 7-9 hitters - went 7-for-7 with 3 RBIs in their first 7 at-bats.
Morel (3-for-4) raised his average to .283, and Dansby Swanson (2-for-3, 2 walks) hit a 2-run homer in the ninth.
As fans were singing "Go, Cubs, Go" all around him, Happ spoke with Fox Sports about the atmosphere during the game.
"The crowd was fantastic all the time," said Happ, who now has 11 multi-HR games in his career. "In-between innings there were some songs, and I stopped for a moment - maybe it was in the seventh or the eighth - and it's just really cool to see how much fun people were having."
It was supposed to be a fun day for both offenses for a couple of reasons.
One was London Stadium's bouncy and unpredictable turf. It did confuse Cubs 3B Nick Madrigal on a sixth-inning double by Tommy Edman, but there were few - if any - other incidents.
The lack of wind - due to stands encircling the entire field - was another reason some believed the ball would carry further than normal.
Those are moot points, however, when someone like Steele (8-2) is on his game. The intimidating lefty struck out a season-high eight and lowered his ERA to 2.62.
His most impressive stretch came in the sixth after Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado followed Edman's double with back-to-back singles.
Steele then reared back and struck out former Cubs catcher Willson Contreras, DH Jordan Walker and right fielder Dylan Carlson.
"I definitely flipped a switch there," Steele said. "I was kind of like, 'All right it's time to put your chest out a little bit and try and get this ball by 'em. ... I needed to get some strikeouts and get out of (that) inning with only 1 run."
The last time Wainwright gave up more than 11 hits came during an 8-6 loss to the Cubs on September 28, 2019. Wainwright gave up 4 home runs that day - to Happ (2), Kyle Schwarber and Victor Caratini.
A "perfect storm of horribleness" was Wainwright's analysis of his performance on Saturday.
"When I did try to spin something hard, I either hung it like I did to Happ or I threw it about a foot outside," he said. "My corrections were overcorrections, and the balls that I did get on the plate were in the middle of the plate."
The Cubs have won 11 of 13 and are 37-38 overall. They will send Marcus Stroman and his NL-leading 2.28 ERA to the mound Sunday.
"We're just playing really good baseball," Happ said. "You saw it today what the complete game looks like.
"The bats came out right away and gave us some energy; Steely threw an unbelievable game - got out of that jam there. Bullpen's been great. And the defense. I think the defense has just been fantastic.
"Just all those little things."
Season-ending surgery for Heuer, Hughes:
RHP Codi Heuer had surgery Friday to repair a fracture in his right elbow. There is no timetable for his return. Heuer was injured on the third pitch of a start for the Iowa Cubs last week. ... LHP Brandon Hughes is expected to have surgery on his left knee soon. He is expected to be out until at least spring training.
The Associated Press contributed.