Your Thursday Morning Roundup
Another Cubs win last night, this time via two long balls.
After the Phillies jumped out to a 3-0 lead thanks to an RBI double from J.T. Realmuto and RBI singles from Rhys Hoskins and Cesar Hernandez, the Cubs tied things up with an Anthony Rizzo three-run home run in the bottom of the third. A couple innings later, Albert Almora Jr. hit a grand slam off Cole Irvin on the first pitch of his at-bat as the Cubs would eventually go on to win 8-4.
Irvin had his first bad start of this career, allowing seven runs off seven hits, with all seven runs off two separate home runs, plus six strikeouts. The jams in the third and fifth killed him. On the other side, Cole Hamels pitched four innings and gave up three runs on nine hits with six strikeouts.
With Vince Velasquez close to returning, could we see him go to the bullpen or take over for Irvin in the starting rotation once again? We’ll have to find out sooner rather than later. But the Phillies and Cubs wrap up their four-game series this afternoon at 2:20 PM on NBC Sports Philadelphia. Aaron Nola takes the mound against Jon Lester.
The Roundup:
Before we begin, make sure you listen to brand new episodes of Snow The Goalie (hockey) and Crossing Broad FC (soccer).
Plenty of off-field talk today with not a lot going on. With the Eagles, the recently retired Chris Long admitted to using marijuana “on a regular basis” while in the NFL.
And The Sporting News, which is still a thing apparently, left Alshon Jeffery off their top 25 wide receivers list.
Over with the Sixers, Joel Embiid was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.
Ben Simmons’ sister tweeted out she’s the second best shooter in the family. Behind her brother, Sean.
Cuttino Mobley (haven’t heard his name in a long time) thinks that Ben Simmons is arrogant.
In other sports news, Juwan Howard is the next basketball coach at Michigan.
Overtime rules in the NFL won’t change. But draft sites were announced and say goodbye to single-header games.
Aaron Rodgers hated the Game of Thrones series finale.
Some Boston sports fan reviewed Manco and Manco.
In the news, Monica Malpass is leaving 6abc after 31 years.
