Schwarber Belts 1st HR, But Cubs Fall To Indians, 4-3
CLEVELAND (AP) — Kyle Schwarber knows his first stint in the majors is going to be short, but he is making the most of his opportunity to impress the Chicago Cubs.
Schwarber had two hits, including his first major league home run, in a 4-3 loss to the Cleveland Indians on Thursday night.
In three games since being called up on Tuesday, Schwarber is 6 for 10 with four RBIs.
"Not many people get to the big leagues and now I'm in the big leagues. What am I going to do? Just be happy and complacent that I'm here? No, I'm going to go and try to take advantage of an opportunity," Schwarber said.
The Cubs called up Schwarber from Double-A Tennessee, where he had been catching, on Tuesday so he could be used as the designated hitter in interleague games against Cleveland and Minnesota.
"That young kid is hitting .900 or whatever," Indians manager Terry Francona said.
Schwarber is a native of Middletown, Ohio, which is near Cincinnati. He played both games in front of several family members and friends.
General manager Theo Epstein and manager Joe Maddon have said Schwarber will be sent to Triple-A Iowa on Monday.
Asked if there was a way Schwarber would stay with the Cubs beyond this weekend, Maddon said, "No ... unless we move to the American League."
"He had another nice night. It has been pretty impressive," Maddon added. "Every at-bat he had was a good at-bat."
Schwarber, who was the fourth overall pick in the 2014 draft, batted in the No. 8 spot Thursday after hitting sixth on Wednesday.
Schwarber had the Cubs' first hit — a single in the third inning — and he came around to score on a throwing error by shortstop Francisco Lindor. In the fifth, Schwarber homered to left off Danny Salazar to tie the game at 3-all.
The Cubs then loaded the bases only to have the game delayed again, this time for 1 hour, 16 minutes (the game started 25 minutes late). Cody Allen retired Miguel Montero on a fly ball and pitched a scoreless sixth.
Cleveland scored the go-ahead run in the seventh on Giovanny Urshela's single that scored Yan Gomes, who had started the winning rally with a single off Travis Wood (3-3). Michael Bourn singled before Urshela's hit off Justin Grimm scored Gomes.
Zach McAllister (2-2) pitched 1 1-3 innings while Bryan Shaw recorded the final four outs for his first save.
Jason Hammel had a rough start, allowing Cleveland's first three hitters to reach base with two scoring on Michael Brantley's RBI double and Montero's passed ball. Gomes' sacrifice fly added a run for the Indians in the fourth to make it 3-1 before Schwarber's homer tied the game.
Salazar allowed three runs in 4 2-3 innings. Hammel gave up three runs in four innings.
Kris Bryant of the Cubs extended his hitting streak to 14 games with an infield single in the fifth. It is the longest active streak in the majors.
Starlin Castro was hit by a pitch from McAllister in the eighth inning but remained in the game. Castro had a large bruise on his left arm after the game.
SIGN HIM UP
The Cubs signed OF Ian Happ, their first-round draft pick Thursday. Happ, the ninth overall pick, batted .369 with 14 home runs and 44 RBIs this season at the University of Cincinnati, becoming the highest drafted player in school history.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cubs: Montero returned after missing Wednesday's game with a stiff back.
Indians: Francona said Ryan Raburn's right arm was a "little sore" after throwing 25 pitches Wednesday, but added the outfielder was fine.
UP NEXT
Cubs: RHP Kyle Kendricks will open a three-game series in Minnesota on Friday night. He will make his first career start against the Twins.
Indians: RHP Carlos Carrasco goes for his career-high ninth win Friday night when he starts against Tampa Bay.
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