CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs were a day late for Throwback Thursday, as Friday’s 12-1 drubbing of the Seattle Mariners had a decidedly April or May feel to it. There were the early runs, the good pitching and then the add-on scoring which turned a nice lead into a blowout. All week, the headlines around Chicago were about the new-look bullpen anchored by flamethrower Aroldis Chapman -- but not Friday. It was the hitters' turn to shine.
“Up and down the lineup,” manager Joe Maddon said after the game. “[Ben] Zobrist is starting to show line drives.