Cade Horton’s ERA (6.75) after one MLB game doesn’t show it, but his debut Saturday against a very good Mets team was a success.
His only real mistake in four innings was a three-run homer by Brett Baty. (Baty homered again later off Julian Merryweather.) Horton struck out five and the Cubs hung on for a 6-5 win over the Mets, only the fourth time the Mets had been defeated in 18 home games this year.
The Cubs didn’t waste any time taking the lead. Pete Crow-Armstrong, leading off for the first time this year, singled, stole second and went to third on a throwing error. Kyle Tucker followed with a walk.
Seiya Suzuki singled in PCA [VIDEO].
Michael Busch struck out, followed by Justin Turner walking to load the bases.
One out later, Dansby Swanson singled in the second run {VIDEO].
Brad Keller served as the opener for Horton and threw a 1-2-3 inning on 17 pitches. Horton took over in the bottom of the second and struck out the first batter he faced, Brandon Nimmo [VIDEO].
The Cubs made it 3-0 in the third. Suzuki led off with a double and was singled in by Busch [VIDEO].
Horton threw a scoreless third and the Cubs made it 4-0 on Swanson’s eighth home run of the year [VIDEO].
That ball was crushed! [VIDEO]
The Mets, though, brought the game within one run on Baty’s three-run homer off Horton in the fourth. Horton, clearly tiring a bit — his fastball velocity had dropped from 97-98 to 95 — allowed a single in the fifth. Allowed to finish the inning with Drew Pomeranz warming up in case Nimmo came up, got Pete Alonso on a sharp line drive caught by Jon Berti.
Horton threw 77 pitches, and at times showed off a really good sweeper. The only real mistake was the Baty home run, an offspeed pitch left up in the zone. Here’s a breakdown of Horton’s pitches [VIDEO].
Here are Horton’s five strikeouts [VIDEO].
Pomeranz and Daniel Palencia threw scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh. Palencia struck out two and was hitting 101 miles per hour.
The Cubs extended their lead in the eighth. With one out, Busch walked. One out later, Nico Hoerner singled and Swanson walked to load the bases.
Miguel Amaya came through [VIDEO].
Amaya saw a first-pitch fastball he liked and the Cubs had a three-run lead.
Those two runs would turn out to be very important when Baty smashed his second homer of the game, a two-run blast off Merryweather, making it 6-5.
That left it to Porter Hodge to finish things off. Hodge walked Jeff McNeil leading off the ninth, but then got Francisco Lindor to hit into a double play.
That brought up Juan Soto, but Hodge calmly got him to ground out to end the game [VIDEO].
That was an entertaining game and a satisfying win over a very good team, and Horton wound up posting the win in his debut. About that win, from BCB’s JohnW53:
Horton is the ninth of the Cubs’ MLB debut relievers to earn a win. The others, by innings pitched: Kirby Higbe (5 IP, in 1937), Hayden Wesneski (5, in 2022), Ed Hanyzewski (4, in 1942), Adbert Alzolay (4, in 2019), Daniel Palencia (2, in 2023), Marc Pisciotta (1, in 1997), John Baker (1, in 2014) and Buddy Schultz (⅓, in 1975).
Here are Horton’s postgame comments [VIDEO].
Horton and his family met for photos on the field after the game [VIDEO].
Here are Craig Counsell’s postgame comments on Horton [VIDEO].
It might be just four innings, but I think Cade Horton showed he belongs in the big leagues. His next outing, which will be his first MLB start, should come up next weekend at Wrigley Field against the White Sox. More on Horton’s debut from BCB’s JohnW53:
Cade Horton is the 928th Cub since 1901 to pitch in his first game with the team. He is the 407th to pitch in his first MLB game as a Cub and 302nd to do so in relief.
It was mentioned on the Fox broadcast that only one other Cubs pitcher had made his MLB debut against the Mets in New York — in 1962! That pitcher was George Gerberman, and it was his only MLB game. I wrote up more about that game in this 2020 article.
The Cubs still have a chance to get out of New York with a series win. Matthew Boyd will start for the Cubs and Griffin Canning goes for the Mets. Game time Sunday is early — 11:05 a.m. CT. TV coverage is via Roku (how to watch). There’s no subscription or payment required to watch today’s game.
With the game so early, here’s the BCB schedule for the rest of this morning: Heroes and Goats for Saturday’s win will post at 9 a.m. CT and the Sunday game preview will post at 10 a.m. CT.
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