Starting Lineups:

Chicago Cubs (26-12):

1) Nico Hoerner (R) 2B

2) Michael Conforto (L) DH

3) Alex Bregman (R) 3B

4) Ian Happ (S) LF

5) Seiya Suzuki (R) RF

6) Michael Busch (L) 1B

7) Carson Kelly (R) C

8) Pete Crow-Armstrong (L) CF

9) Dansby Swanson (R) SS

Starting Pitcher: RHP Ben Brown (1-1, 2.10 ERA)

Texas Rangers (17-20):

1) Brandon Nimmo (L) RF

2) Ezequiel Durán (R) 2B

3) Corey Seager (L) SS

4) Josh Jung (R) 3B

5) Evan Carter (L) CF

6) Joc Pederson (L) DH

7) Jake Burger (R) 1B

8) Alejandro Osuna (L) LF

9) Danny Jansen (R) C

Starting Pitcher: RHP Kumar Rocker (1-3, 4.71 ERA)

Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX — In the series opener between the Chicago Cubs and the Texas Rangers, the Cubs smoked the Rangers 7-1 thanks to an offensive onslaught.

The Cubs would score right away in the top of the first inning.

Michael Conforto hit a ground-rule-double and two batters later, Ian Happ would drive in the first run of the game with an RBI single, putting Chicago ahead 1-0. Happ has now reached base in 29-straight games.

The Cubs would score again in the top of the fourth inning thanks to the long ball.

Happ drew a lead-off walk and one batter later, Seiya Suzuki would blast a two-run homer into the bullpen in center field, to put the Cubs ahead 3-0.

The Rangers would get on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Evan Carter drew a lead-off walk in the bottom of the fifth, as did pinch hitter Andrew McCutchen to put two on, with no one out. Two batters later, pinch hitter Justin Foscue would plate the Ranger’s first run with an RBI single to cut into the lead, 3-1 Chicago.

The Cubs would respond the following inning with another run.

Michael Busch worked a one-out walk in the top of the sixth inning and he stole second base to put himself in scoring position. Two hitters later, Pete Crow-Armstrong would plate Busch with an RBI ground rule double, putting the Cubs ahead 4-1.

The Cubbies would score again in the top of the seventh inning, blowing the game wide open.

Nico Hoerner reached second base to lead off the top of the seventh on an error committed by Foscue. Conforto worked a walk to put two on, with no one out. Alex Bregman would drop in a single to center field to load the bases.

After two force outs at the plate, Busch would crush a ball to the left-center field gap for a bases clearing three-RBI double, putting the Cubs up 7-1.

Seiya Suzuki – photo courtesy of Bleed Cubbie Blue

The Good: The Cubs offense came to play up and down the lineup — they scored 7 runs with three different players collecting an RBI and have now won 10-straight games. At a 27-12 record, the Cubs are in first place in the N.L. Central, holding a 4 game lead over the Cardinals.

The Bad/The Ugly: Ranger’s starter Kumar Rocker struggled with his command all night — he was only able to pitch 3 and two thirds innings, giving up 3 runs and surrendering 3 walks. Due to his elevated pitch count, he was ultimately pulled from the game in the fourth inning.

-Matt Koper

Founder of Koper’s Korner