Batting Anthony Rizzo leadoff Thursday afternoon wasn’t the only reason the Cubs walked away with a much-needed win, but it was a reason. After drawing a walk to open the game, Rizzo scooted to third on a Kyle Schwarber single and came home on a sac fly from Kris Bryant. While those manufactured runs aren’t as sexy as the ones that come from homers, they’re just as effective.
And in the case of their finale in San Diego, the Cubs getting on the board early — and in a situation that has vexed them the previous evening — made a big difference.