The home run Cubs designated hitter Kyle Tucker drove into the bleachers Thursday was cool and all, but manager Craig Counsell focused on a different sign that Tucker was heating up at the plate.
‘‘The takes have been just really solid,’’ Counsell said of Tucker’s at-bats in Games 3 and 4 of the National League Division Series against the Brewers. ‘‘I thought the first-inning takes [and] some of the takes against [Brewers left-hander Aaron] Ashby, that gives you a pretty good idea a lot of times how a hitter’s feeling.’’
Tucker had a short ramp-up to the postseason. After missing most of September with a strained calf, he returned for the last series of the regular season, even though he wasn’t completely pain-free. So his slow start to the playoffs probably shouldn’t have come as a surprise.
He has had two hits, however, in each of the Cubs’ last two games.
‘‘I feel good,’’ Tucker said Thursday. ‘‘I’m swinging at pitches I want to swing at and laying off some of the other ones. It’s not always going to go your way, but as long as you can go up there and have a chance and put yourself in good spots, you’re at least giving yourself a shot.’’
Tucker’s solo homer to lead off the seventh inning was his first extra-base hit since he homered Sept. 2 — before exiting early with a tight calf.
‘‘Kyle is such a gifted hitter,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘And with that goes incredible expectations. And, in a way, the way he started off his tenure with the Cubs probably raised the expectations.
‘‘And since then, some things have not gone right. But my thought in this always has been Kyle is going to impact this thing. He’s just too good of a player, too good of a hitter. He’s going to impact this thing. Hopefully it’s happening at the best time.’’
Tough breaks for Kelly
The Cubs briefly had an even larger lead en route to their victory Thursday against the Brewers.
How is that possible?
The Cubs were leading 5-0 in the seventh, shortly after Tucker’s homer, when catcher Carson Kelly pulled a fly ball down the left-field line and onto Waveland Avenue. But a replay review called back what originally was called a two-run homer, ruling the ball foul.
After circling the bases, Kelly stepped back into the box and, two pitches later, grounded out to shortstop. It was a close play and the Cubs challenged it, but the out call was upheld.
‘‘There’s got to be a record for that, right? Two replays in one at-bat,’’ Kelly said. ‘‘It’s like a kick in the face. But, you know, we got the win, and you live to fight another day.’’
Horton building up
Rookie right-hander Cade Horton took another step in his throwing program Friday. In his second bullpen session since landing on the injured list with a fractured rib, Horton simulated two innings.
‘‘Everything went really well,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘It was a really positive day. So, obviously, how he feels [after the session] and how he feels tomorrow are really important. But the actual throwing session went very well.’’
Earlier in the week, Horton said he was optimistic about his chances of returning for the NL Championship Series. The Cubs, however, are being cautious about locking down a timeline because of the unpredictable nature of his injury.