So, the day started with some Cubs fans (me too) kind of upset over the Opening Day lineup against the Rangers. The only real annoying part was Kyle Schwarber not getting the start, with Mark Zagunis filling in for him in left field. There was also David Bote at second base, while Ben Zobrist was the DH and Jason Heyward started in right field. Hey, turns out Joe Maddon pushed all the right buttons because the Cubs offense looked like its vintage self during Thursday's 12-4 win over the Rangers.
Javier Baez hit two home runs and had four RBIs, but it was Zagunis who gave the Cubs the lead with a double in the fifth inning. The Cubs scored six runs to blow the game open in the fifth, capped off by Baez's second long ball of the day.
Eight of the nine starting hitters got at least one hit, while Willson Contreras walked twice. Heyward had two hits, as well as Bote, Baez and Albert Almora Jr. Kris Bryant also hit a two-run home run in the eighth.
Ben Zobrist walked twice like Contreras and Anthony Rizzo walked three times. As a team the Cubs had eight walks and it was a joy to watch them grind out at-bats against the inexperienced Rangers relievers late in the game. That's what made the Cubs offense so good when it was rolling in 2015-17. So far so good. I know, it's literally one game, but we'd rather overreact about a Cubs dominating win rather than yell about a loss. Yu Darvish will make the start on Saturday for the Cubs.
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