When Cubs left-handed hitter Michael Busch poked a game-tying single through the left side of the infield Tuesday, reliever Chris Flexen’s attention turned to getting ready for the next inning. He already had held the Rockies to one run in the 10th and 11th innings, and he was prepared to stay on the mound as long as it took.
Then rookie Matt Shaw came through with the walk-off RBI single.
“I kept telling my boys, ‘Pick me up, pick me up,’ ” Flexen said Tuesday after the Cubs’ 4-3 win against the Rockies. “And that was awesome to see. Hearing that crowd erupt was phenomenal.”
His was the latest standout performance for a bullpen that, entering Wednesday, had posted a 1.03 ERA in the Cubs’ last 12 games (since May 14), the best mark in the majors during that span.
Flexen allowed just one hit – well-placed up the middle – and the only run he allowed was on a groundout to the right side of the field in the top of the 11th inning.
The run, scored by the automatic extra-innings runner, is considered unearned. So, Flexen’s ERA through seven appearances (12 ⅓ innings) with the Cubs this year as a long reliever remained 0.00.
“Those are tough innings, pressure packed innings, not a job that he’s done in his career,” manager Craig Counsell said. “He’s pitched in a bunch of games where he’s covered some innings and we’ve come back and won. And [Tuesday] he had to pitch two huge innings and just made pitches.”
Flexen, who mostly has been a starter in his major-league career, had pitched in extra innings with the automatic runner on second base before. But it was the first time he’d been called upon to pitch multiple extra innings with that rule in place.
“It makes the situation a little more challenging,” Flexen said with a chuckle. “But the mindset is still the same: just win a ball game, get outs, and try to hold it where it’s at.”
Imanaga’s first bullpen
Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga threw a bullpen Wednesday for the first time since landing on the 15-day injured list with a strained hamstring about three weeks ago.
He also went through fielding practice and running drills in what Counsell described as an “active day.”
“All in all, a very good work day,” Counsell said.
As long as Imanaga recovers well, he’s scheduled to go through a similar workout again this weekend and then likely continue his rehab at the Cubs’ Arizona complex after the team leaves for a nine-game road trip next week.
Kelly returns to lineup
Catcher Carson Kelly returned to the starting lineup Wednesday, fully recovered from an illness Sunday.
The night before, Kelly entered the Cubs’ 11-inning 4-3 win against the Rockies as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the ninth inning.
He hit a fly ball to the warning track that, with an exit velocity of 104 mph and a launch angle of 27 degrees, appeared to be knocked down by the wind.
“On another night, might be a home run,” Counsell said after the game.
Kelly finished the game Tuesday at catcher.