In the middle of Game 1 of Thursday’s doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs’ starting pitcher Marcus Stroman had a scary moment in the fifth inning. The typically energetic right-hander stepped off the mound and appeared to have suffered a leg injury.
But according to Gordan Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago, Stroman was only experiencing leg cramps due to the humidity.
Stroman, who was on the injured list earlier this season because of shoulder soreness, was on cruise control for most of the game. After talking to the trainer and manager David Ross, the righty was able to stay in the game and work through the fifth and sixth innings without giving up a run. He eventually allowed all three of his runs on the afternoon in the seventh after surrendering back-to-back home runs to Nolan Gorman and Paul Goldschmidt, as well as a sacrifice fly by Lars Nootbaar.
The Cardinals ended up winning the game in the ninth, with Nootbaar hitting a walk-off single to take the first contest of the twin bill.
For the day, Stroman threw 6.2 innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs with no walks and six strikeouts. After the game, Wittenmyer checked in with Stroman on the leg cramps.
“[I was] just getting super crampy in my lower half, a little light-headed,” Stroman said. “Humid day games are usually tough for me to get through. I’m just glad I could get out there and pitch. I just needed a little second to stretch and catch my breath.”
Fingers crossed that the cramps were just a minor scare for Stroman and he won’t have to miss any future starts. Since his return from the IL, he’s posted a 1.67 ERA with 23 strikeouts and just six walks in five starts.
Bote Optioned to Triple-A, Newcomb Selected
The Chicago Cubs also made a couple of roster moves after Game 1 of the doubleheader.
Sean Newcomb, who started the nightcap against the Cardinals, came to the Cubs in an early-season trade with the Atlanta Braves. Even after a DFA from Chicago, he remained in the system. With the Cubs so far this season, the lefty has made four appearances out of the bullpen and pitched to a 16.62 ERA with four strikeouts and nine hits in 4.1 innings pitched.
With Newcomb’s call-up, the Cubs optioned infielder David Bote back to Triple-A Iowa.
Bote, who kicked off the season on the IL, rejoined the MLB roster in late June. In a brief 20-game stint with the Cubs, he’s posted a slash line of .260/.327/.380 with three doubles, one home run, and three RBIs.
After suffering a three-game sweep at the hands of the Cardinals, the Cubs head back to Wrigley Field for a three-game series with the Miami Marlins beginning Friday at 1:20 PM CT.
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