Aaron Civale was something approaching great on Wednesday night. In six innings of work, he allowed just two runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out three, navigating constant traffic on the basepaths against a first-place Cubs team that, despite some depressed offensive numbers in 2020, does pack some punch.
The three walks were a surprise for what he’s shown so far, and he was let down again by his own offense, but it was another example of incremental growth from Civale that, amid a turbulent season for a myriad of reasons, has been a little dose of pleasantness.