The Chicago Cubs bounced back in style with a commanding 10-2 victory over the Washington Nationals, shaking off their Opening Day loss. Cade Horton was a maestro on the mound, efficiently working into the seventh inning with just 75 pitches. Ian Happ found redemption, launching a homer after the wind denied him in the opener, while Pete Crow-Armstrong showcased his talent with two hits, two runs, and a couple of stolen bases.
Wrigley Field was electric, with over 34,000 fans on their feet from the get-go. The Cubs' explosive second inning, where they plated four runs, sent the crowd into a frenzy. One moment even went viral, thanks to home plate umpire Jim Wolf and a hot mic incident.
During a play involving Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner's stolen base-one of three for the Cubs-Wolf thought the Nationals were challenging a ball-strike call. The exchange was both humorous and telling of the crowd's impact:
Wolf: “The catcher is challenging the ‘ball’ call."
Millas: "Oh, no, no, no."
Wolf: “Wait, what’d you say?”
Wolf: "Cancel that (challenge)."
Wolf: “I thought you said check that."
Wolf: “Damn crowd is too damn loud."
This isn't the first time Cubs fans have made their presence felt. Last fall, they rattled then-Brewers pitcher Freddy Peralta with relentless chants during a crucial playoff game. But this kind of energy isn't typical everywhere-it's a Wrigley staple.
Cubs fans are starved for success, especially after last season's playoff return and an impressive offseason that saw key moves like signing Alex Bregman and trading for Edward Cabrera. With recent contract extensions for Pete Crow-Armstrong and Nico Hoerner, the excitement is palpable.
Just ask Jim Wolf about the power of the Cubs' faithful.