Seventeen runs. Zero runs allowed. That’s the combined damage inflicted in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series on the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox last night. Both clubs got absolutely flattened in their postseason openers, and you have to wonder if a ridiculous, utterly pointless Game 162 played just days before is to blame.
The Forced Trip to the Trop
Can you believe the Cubs and Red Sox were forced to play their final regular season game at Tropicana Field on Sunday? Yes, in St. Petersburg, Florida, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays. Stormy weather in the Northeast apparently pushed the game all the way down there. The kicker? That game meant absolutely nothing to either team. Their postseason seeding was locked, decided, done. Yet, off they went, hopping on a plane to play out the string on a 162-game schedule. This absurd trip left them with just one single off day before diving headfirst into their respective Wild Card Series. Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres, Chicago’s opponent, *did* play on Sunday, but at least it was a regular schedule. The New York Yankees, who faced the Red Sox, had their Game 162 canceled due to weather, giving them a full two days to rest and prepare.
The Crushing First Punch
The results of that ridiculous travel schedule and lack of rest? Brutal. The Cubs stumbled out of the gate, losing 8-0 to the Padres in Game 1. Over in New York, the Red Sox fared no better, falling 9-0 to the Yankees. Together, these two teams, fresh off their forced “vacation” to Tropicana Field, combined for a grand total of zero runs and just six hits. Their pitching staffs collectively coughed up 25 hits. This is not how you want to start October baseball. Is this just a wild coincidence? Or did Major League Baseball make a seriously wrong call by sending two clubs to play a meaningless game across the country, potentially setting them up for this kind of postseason collapse? It sure looks like a massive swing and a miss by the league.
What a way to kick off the Wild Card Series. Both the Cubs and Red Sox now stare down a massive hole, all after a regular season finale that truly mattered to no one but MLB’s scheduling department. You have to wonder what Game 2 will bring for these squads.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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