Atlanta’s Fried becomes latest pitcher to stop Cubs’ bats

Cody Bellinger of the Chicago Cubs goes to first but is forced out during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
P.A.

This game was a repeat of a familiar scenario for the Cubs.

An opposing pitcher was in his game and the Cubs hitters didn’t accomplish much. On Wednesday, it was Atlanta’s Max Fried, who threw a three-hitter as the Cubs lost 9-2 at Wrigley Field.

The southpaw kept hitters off balance by throwing his big curveball for strikes, zipping four seams at 94 mph, then mixing in a slider and several other pitches. He issued no walks and only counted three balls three times.

Fried was perfect for five innings before Ian Happ led off the sixth with a double. Happ ended up with 2 of the Cubs’ 3 hits.

“He’s got weapons, man,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said of Fried. “He’s got a bunch of weapons and you never feel like you have anything to sit on and there’s very little in the middle of the plate. He threw very well.

For the Cubs pitchers, there was a shining moment in the ninth inning. Right-hander Porter Hodge took the mound for his major league debut and all he did was strike out Ozzie Albies, Marcel Ozuna and Matt Olson on 10 pitches. He missed a clean inning of a pitch.

“I was just trying to do my job,” said Hodge, who used his fastball exclusively. “My heart was racing, I was just trying to stay relaxed and I did a good job with that.”

Luis Vazquez also made his debut. He saw no action in one inning at shortstop, then was struck out in the top of the ninth.

It was a solid outing for Cubs starter Justin Steele through six innings. He gave up a 2-run homer to Adam Duvall in the third, but was otherwise sharp.

Steele came back for the seventh and that inning didn’t go well. Orlando Arcia led off with a double off the wall and eventually scored on a Zack Short bunt. Jose Cuas came in from the bullpen and gave up back-to-back homers to Ozuna and Olson, capping a 6-run inning. Steele therefore went from 2 earned runs in 6 innings to 5 earned runs in 6⅓.

“The score may not look like it should,” Counsell said. “But he did well. It’s there for round seven, which means you’re off to a good start.

Steele has allowed 6 home runs in his last three starts, but said he thinks five of them came against well-executed pitches.

“My velocity is at an all-time high since I started in the big leagues,” Steele said. “So it feels really good. I feel like I’m executing at a pretty high level at this point. I feel really good where I am.

Before the game, Kyle Hendricks talked about his time in the bullpen. He was optimistic, while acknowledging that he can’t expect to stay in the rotation with a 10.57 ERA.

Adam Duvall, right, of the Atlanta Braves, walks past Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
P.A.

“I’m honestly excited about the opportunity and the challenge, in a way,” he said. “Just a big opportunity obviously to try to change things.

“We’re in a sort of win-now mode. This is exactly where I want to be. I want to be part of a winning team. I just want to do my part to contribute to this victory.

Hendricks has yet to make an appearance from the bullpen this season. That could change Thursday afternoon, when rookie Ben Brown starts the series finale against Atlanta.

Alzolay update: Before the game, manager Craig Counsell provided an update on reliever Adbert Alzolay, who received a second medical opinion on a strained flexor muscle in his right forearm. The plan is for Alzolay to rest for at least two weeks and then reevaluate. Counsell said it was essentially a recurrence of an injury Alzolay suffered last year.

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