The Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 20-9 on Tuesday night, and they followed it up with a 16-6 victory on Wednesday night at Wrigley Field.
The @Cubs have won 12 of 15! pic.twitter.com/8Tlrv4IPRU
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) August 3, 2023
Do the math, and that comes out to 36 runs for the Cubs over two games. That’s good for the most runs the Cubs have scored over a two-game span since 1897, when they scored 43 runs. Additionally, the Cubs’ 12 home runs are the most over a two-game span since at least 1901.
The 43 runs in a two-game span included a 36-7 win over the Louisville Colonels, back when the @Cubs were the Chicago Colts. From the Chicago Chronicle:
h/t @baseball_ref & @_newspapers, and thank you @EdHartig! pic.twitter.com/54drAhD5uZ
— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) August 3, 2023
The Cubs are also the first team in MLB history to have at least 10 extra-base hits and at least five home runs in consecutive games.
The Cubs are the 1st team to have 10 extra base hits and 5 HR in consecutive games in MLB history. https://t.co/2X22cfhUl0
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) August 3, 2023
A huge reason for the success over the two days is the addition of Jeimer Candelario. The Cubs acquired Candelario — who came up in Chicago’s system and was part of its 2016 team that went on to win the World Series — in a trade-deadline deal with the Washington Nationals on Monday.
The Cubs are averaging 18 runs per game this season when Jeimer Candelario plays.
— Matt Clapp (@TheBlogfines) August 3, 2023
In Candelario’s two games since the trade, he’s 8-for-9 with a walk. That performance makes MLB history, as explained by ESPN’s Jesse Rogers:
Per @ESPNStatsInfo: Jeimer Candelario has 8 hits in his first 2 games with the Cubs this season. That is the most hits in a player's first 2 games with a team after playing for a different organization earlier in the season since 1900. His only out was vs a position player.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) August 3, 2023
Here are more reactions to the Cubs making history:
The Cubs scored 16 runs against the Reds on Wednesday after scoring 20 on Tuesday. The 36 runs over the last 2 games are their most in a 2-game span within a season since 1897.
Chicago has scored 145 runs since the All-Star Break, over 40 runs more than any other team. pic.twitter.com/GZLb2Sgvtb
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 3, 2023
The Cubs have been playing at Wrigley Field since 1916. This is the first time they have scored 15+ runs in consecutive games at Wrigley.
— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) August 3, 2023
Runs scored in August
The Cubs 36
The AL Central 27— Jay Cuda (@JayCuda) August 3, 2023
Oh, and these were two hugely important wins for the Cubs in the NL Central race. The Cubs (55-53) have pulled to within three games of the first-place Reds. On July 20, the Cubs were 8.5 games back of first place with a 45-51 record.
