WASHINGTON — Chicago Cubs left-hander Drew Pomeranz tried to keep his routine the same despite the slightly different game circumstance.
For the second time in a week, Pomeranz got the start as an opener versus a Washington Nationals lineup stacked with lefties at the top. Thursday marked the third time manager Craig Counsell used an opener this season, with the Cubs winning all three games.
Pomeranz’s scoreless opening frame led way to right-hander Colin Rea tossing 5 1/3 shutout innings, and the Cubs rode an early lead behind Pete Crow-Armstrong’s two-run home run for a 7-1 victory.
The Cubs won their seventh consecutive series, having gone 16-5 over that stretch, and own a five-game lead in the National League Central heading into their weekend series in Detroit. At 39-23, they have the second-best record in the majors behind the Tigers (41-23).
Crow-Armstrong’s first-inning blast was his team-leading 16th, and he tied Seiya Suzuki for the team lead in RBIs with 53. Ian Happ collected three hits and drove in four runs, including two on a home run in the sixth.
Rea became the first Cubs pitcher since Jamie Moyer in 1986 with at least 5 1/3 shutout innings and no strikeouts.
Although Pomeranz has made 141 starts during his 12 years in the majors, he likes to keep a bullpen mentality, so he tried to channel that while warming up in the top of the first at Nationals Park.
“I probably tried to overhype myself a little bit, instead of just attacking the zone,” Pomeranz conceded afterward. “I like to be rushed, I like the adrenaline. That’s part of being in the bullpen. It helps thrust you into the moment. So I think I tried to overcreate it a little there, but it’s just the game you play. I’m trying to go out there and get out of there as soon as possible.”
Pomeranz has not allowed a run in 14 2/3 innings (16 appearances) this season, giving up only five hits and three walks. Pomeranz’s performance and Caleb Thielbar’s consistency has given Counsell trusted lefty relief options. Thielbar worked out of trouble in the seventh, striking out Nationals shortstop C.J. Abrams to leave the bases loaded and maintain a 5-0 lead.
Theilbar’s strikeout represented their only one of the night, the fewest strikeouts by Cubs pitchers since May 25, 2017, when Eddie Butler recorded the one strikeout.
“It lets us put guys in good spots, most importantly, and they’ve been performing in those spots and against a team like this you need it frankly,” Counsell said of their lefty relievers. “Caleb’s just been so solid in that sixth, seventh inning. He’s done a heck of a job.”
Thielbar has surrendered just one run since April 15. In his 19 appearances and 17 innings over that stretch, Thielbar has recorded 10 hits, five walks and 15 strikeouts.
“Having the movement on my fastball back, that was really my goal coming into this year, is to get the carry on the fastball back, and it’s been pretty consistent where it needs to be,” Thielbar said. “And when I’ve been good in the past, that’s where it is right now.”
While the Cubs have dealt with some injuries to their pitching staff, the bullpen has settled steadily into roles, especially in high-leverage spots. Over the last five weeks, the bullpen owns the sixth-best ERA in baseball.
“Everyone’s doing well, going in, pounding the zone, getting guys out,” Pomeranz said. “You know you’re not going to be perfect every time, but if you have that mentality going out there, just attacking guys and going right at them, trying to keep the free bags off the table, you get good results, and we have been so far.”
The Cubs expected to rely on their lefty relievers more in this series because of how the Nationals lineup is constructed. They know certain teams will force those kind of matchups; another looms next week in Philadelphia, where big at-bats against sluggers Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber await.
“We’re trying to do whatever we can to win games,” Pomeranz said. “So if that means I have to be an opener every time, whatever, that’s fine too. I’ll do whatever’s asked of me.”