Cubs take game one with commanding 9-2 win

A’s are welcomed rudely to the north side

The A’s just might be ready to leave Chicago early.

Yesterday, the 35-115 White Sox snagged their second straight win over the A’s to salvage a series victory and win their first back-to-back games since June. Today, the A’s looked to turn a new leaf on the other side of Chicago facing off against the Cubs but the result was more of the same.

The Cubs won 9-2 to grab the first of three in a game that was over by the bottom of the second inning. A’s starter Joey Estes was shelled in the effort and besides another bomb from Brent Rooker, the offense was no where to be found for most of the affair.

The A’s looked to bust out of the gate hot when Jacob Wilson led off the game with a triple. Instead, Rooker would strikeout, Shea Langeliers lined out and Zack Gelof grounded out to strand Wilson and ruin a golden opportunity. The Cubs, on the other hand, wouldn’t be denied with their early chances.

After taking a 1-0 lead off Estes in the first, the Cubs exploded for more in the second. Four straight singles by Nico Hoerner, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Miguel Amaya and Ian Happ followed by a three-run jack off the bat of Dansby Swanson suddenly gifted the Cubs a 6-0 lead. Estes would allow a single to the next batter, Seiya Suzuki, to end his brutal day early. His final line was: 1.0 IP, nine hits, and six runs in 56 pitches.

Rooker got two of those runs back in the next half sending a big-fly to the right field basket. His 38th long ball of the year cut the Cubs lead in thirds.

Just when the A’s showed life, the Cubs came right back.

RBI singles from Amaya and Swanson surrendered by Hogan Harris grew the lead back to six as Chicago had a response for every A’s threat this afternoon. They outhit Oakland 18-9 and scored in each of the first four innings.

With the deficit now 9-2 after Estes and Harris failed to keep anyone at bay, credit Brandon Bielak for providing some answers and efficiency out of the A’s pen. In his first appearance back in the big leagues from Triple-A Las Vegas, Bielak impressed with four scoreless frames in relief allowing no walks and striking out one. He’s got a 1.69 ERA in five appearances with the A’s since being acquired from the Houston Astros on May 16.

On the Cubs pitching end, Shota Imanaga impressed yet again. The Japanese-born rookie went six innings allowing just the two runs off five hits and 11 strikeouts including 8/9 Oakland starters at least once. Wilson was the lone starter not to strikeout against Imanaga while JJ Bleday, Gelof and Daz Cameron all had a pair. The A’s finished with 13 in total.

Tomorrow is a new day and the A’s will hope that Mitch Spence can get them back to their winning ways. He’ll face off against Jordan Wicks for another 4:40 PM PDT first-pitch at Wrigley Field.