Chicago Sun-Times

Chapman struts stuff to finish rout

Cubs blast 3 homers after being no-hit by Ranaudo into 6th

- Follow me on Twitter @GDubCub. BY GORDON WITTENMYER Staff Reporter Email: gwittenmye­r@suntimes.com

The Cubs’ big eighth inning Wednesday at Wrigley Field turned a close game into an 8-1 rout of the White Sox, but that didn’t seem to diminish the drama surroundin­g the debut of controvers­ial closer Aroldis Chapman.

A smattering of boos could be heard amid a much louder chorus of cheers as he entered to pitch the ninth inning. But then it was all “oohs” and “ahs” when his first pitch registered at 101 on the scoreboard radar display.

Second pitch: 101. Third pitch: 102.

By the time pinch hitter Avisail Garcia struck out looking at a 103 mph fastball to end the game, Cubs history had come full circle, from Three Finger Brown to Three Digit Chapman — with the same World Series expectatio­ns attached.

“It’s just entertaini­ng to watch the gun, beyond everything else,” manager Joe Maddon said. “Of course, you’re looking to get the win, but it’s different, man. He’s a different kind of pitcher. You don’t see that [but] every 100 years or so.

“I don’t have any comps on that one. I don’t think anybody does.”

Chapman, who got off to a rocky start with Chicago media Tuesday over a series of non-answers to questions about his domestic-violence suspension this year, initially refused to talk with media after the game, visibly upset.

Eventually, and with the help of some bridge-building by catcher Miguel Montero, Chapman took a few questions.

“The adrenaline was pretty good, even though it wasn’t a save situation,” Chapman said, with Montero translatin­g from Spanish. “It was fun to hear the crowd cheering for me.”

Chapman, pitching for the first time since Saturday, was in line for the save until the Cubs scored five runs in the eighth inning, capped by 22-year-old Addison Russell’s first career grand slam. Russell became the youngest Cub to hit a grand slam since 1962 (Nelson Mathews, 20).

Kris Bryant broke up White Sox starter Anthony Ranaudo’s no-hitter with a solo home run in the sixth, and Javy Baez hit a tiebreakin­g two-run blast in the seventh.

Ranaudo, who was making his debut for the Sox, helped his own cause with a home run — his first career hit — in the fifth inning off Jason Hammel. Ranaudo was acquired from the Rangers in May. He became the first Sox pitcher to homer since Mark Buehrle against the Brewers on June 14, 2009, at Miller Park.

Hammel (11-7) pitched seven strong innings to win his third straight start out of the All-Star break, reaching a career high in wins.

 ?? | CHARLES REX ARBOGAST/AP ?? The Cubs’ Javy Baez hits a tiebreakin­g, two-run homer off the White Sox’ Anthony Ranaudo in the seventh inning.
| CHARLES REX ARBOGAST/AP The Cubs’ Javy Baez hits a tiebreakin­g, two-run homer off the White Sox’ Anthony Ranaudo in the seventh inning.

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