Cubs’ trip to Williamsport may have been just what they needed
9:03 pm | August 18, 2019 | Go to Source | Author:
12:38 AM ET
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Maybe all it took was a trip back to their childhood. It’s as good an explanation as any for the Chicago Cubs finally winning a road series Sunday night with a 7-1 victory the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Little League Classic. After a day and evening of being reminded what the game is all about, the Cubs finally, mercifully, won their first road series in exactly three months, taking two of three from the Pirates.
“I would imagine every major league team would like to do this,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of coming to Williamsport. “It is exciting. It is pure. It is what it’s supposed to look like.”
And it could be just what the Cubs needed. The pressure of yet another pennant race doesn’t apply to the Pirates, who have fallen far out of the hunt since the All-Star break. And they’ve played at Williamsport before and probably will come again, given their proximity. But for the Cubs, it was a one-day respite. Yes, they had to take the game at night seriously — but not the entire day.
“I’m a really a tough routine guy,” winning pitcher Jose Quintana said. “I always do the same thing before the game. But today was really special. I said hello to the kids. It was different.”
The Cubs need something different in their road life, as it’s been the grind of all grinds away from home, where Chicago improved to just 25-39 on the year. But on Sunday, there was no one reminding them of that record, only about what the game is all about.