Stroman Dazzles, Allows Just 1 Hit in Cubs' 1-0 Win Over Rays
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs needed in a win the worst way on Monday, especially after losing four straight home games and looking awful in the process.
But when they hand the ball to ace Marcus Stroman, the Cubs always feel like they have a good chance to win, especially against the mighty Tampa Bay Rays, who showed up at Wrigley Field with the best record in baseball and the top offense in the game.
Stroman shut them down completely. He hit Luke Raley with a pitch in the third inning and gave up a bloop single to Wander Franco in the seventh to end his no-hit bid. He walked the next batter, second baseman Brandon Lowe but then retired the last nine hitters in a row for a 1-0 win.
It was the fifth complete game of his career, his second shutout and the first complete game one-hitter. He threw 105 pitches and had the Rays completely off balance all day.
“I felt great. It’s just the steps I’ve been making mechanically and making adjustments. It’s all been coming together,'' Stroman said afterward. “This was special, an amazing thing, especially in front of all those fans. To be honest, I didn’t even know I had it (the no-hitter) because I hit that batter and I never even put two and two together.
‘’Throwing a CG at Wrigley, that’s like one of the top moments in my career.’’
This 1-0 thriller was the ultimate small ball game. The only run came in the fourth inning off of hard-luck Tampa Bay loser Taj Bradley. Cubs center fielder Seiya Suzuki hit a hard drive down the third base line that Taylor Walls grabbed but his throw was wildly high and sailed into the Rays dugout.
Suzuki went to second, and then advanced to third on a Dansby Swanson fly ball to center and scored on a sacrifice fly to deep right by Mike Tauchman for the only run of the game.
The Cubs (23-30) never threatened again, either. Bradley pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed just the one unearned run and three hits. He had one walk and eight strikeouts.
"I was super pleased with Taj. He mixed all his pitches,'' Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "He had the have the fastball and the cutter really going a lot, and he broke out a couple of changeup to lefties. He has a lot of power. It's pretty cool when he's sitting at 95-96 and he needs to reach back he can go ahead and get 99. I saw that a couple times, so I'm really, really pleased with the way Taj threw the ball.
"(The Walls error), it was a tough play. He just overthrew it. I don't even know what they ruled it —(a hit and an error) — but they don't know Wallsy that well, but that's fine. It's unfortunate. That's the way it goes. Sometimes that's baseball, like 11 -10 yesterday and 1-0 here pretty today in a unique game.''
Stroman spent the first six years of his career in Toronto from 2014 to 2019, so he's been battling the Rays for years, without much success.
He knows how good they are — especially this year — and how on point he needed to be. He did just that.
‘’The Rays (39-17) are incredible. I’ve struggled against the Rays my entire career,'' Stroman said. "Their lineups are always scrappy and it feels like they’re always on everything. They are one of those teams that continuously puts out great hitters one through nine, even when you don’t necessarily know who they are. Even whey they bring up guys from the minors, they have success.
“I was in the AL East for a while and I used to hate facing the Rays because they don’t give ABs away.’’
Stroman got a roaring standing ovation from the huge Wrigley Field crowd of 38,163 after Franco's bloop hit to left broke up his no-hitter. They also gave him a loud cheer when he dashed out to the mound for the ninth inning.
“I’m truly better when I’m calm, so I try to not get too antsy. I acknowledged the crowd after the hit, but I had to really zone back in,'' Stroman said. "It was still a 1-0 game. It was the same way in the ninth, trying not to get too excited and stay in the moment.’’
“This game is incredibly hard, so any time you can get a performance like this, I think you just have to be very grateful for it. It’s a celebration for all of us. I’m thankful and grateful for everyone who has a piece in it.''
The two teams meet again on Tuesday night at Wrigley. The game starts at 8:05 p.m. ET
