Hammel’s fresh start big part of Cubs’ best-in-majors 8-1 start

Less than six months after he was booed off the same Wrigley Field mound in the Cubs’ final loss of the playoffs, Jason Hammel owned the place Thursday night in the Cubs’ 8-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

In a game that was close until an eighth-inning outburst by the highest-scoring lineup in the National League, Hammel pitched six scoreless innings and ignited a two-run fifth with a double – in the process backing up months of work and rededication to his new start.

“It was that look-in-the-mirror type moment,” said Hammel (1-0), who has allowed just one run in two starts since a holistic approach to his offseason work that included mechanics adjustments and created a side effect of weight loss and toned-up body.

“It was a moment where you’ve got to figure out what’s inside and continue to work hard,” said Hammel, who lasted just two batters into the second inning of his Game 4 start in last year’s National League Championship Series. “I dedicated myself to making some changes this offseason, and it was important. I felt bad obviously the way things panned out last year. But that was last year. I was able to focus on some good things this year and simplify as much as I could. And so far it’s translated.”

Other than seven walks in the two starts, Hammel has looked a lot like the pitcher who had a 2.86 ERA in the first half last year and flirted with All-Star consideration – as opposed to the one who finished with a second-half 5.10 ERA.

“The last part of last season really stuck with him,” manager Joe Maddon said. “To his credit, look what he’s done to his body alone, just the kind of shape that he’s in right now. He’s very committed to this season and to his career.”

On this night, it helped the Cubs to a sweep of the Reds, with their fifth victory in a row overall, as they tied the franchise’s best nine-game start.

The last time the Cubs started 8-1 was the ill-fated 1969 season, when that club opened with victories in 11 of its first 12 games.

The Cubs poured it on with a five-run eighth, drawing three more walks along the way, and boosting their scoring average to 7.1 runs per game.

After getting no-hit for 6 2/3 innings in the series opener, they outscored the Reds 22-3 from their first hit on.

Hammel’s two-game fresh start might be as big in some ways the revamped lineup’s start.

“Obviously, the walks – that’s something I’ve got to cut back on,” Hammel said. “That’s just not me. But I’m staying aggressive, and I’m not beating myself up in the inning like I was. As long as I can continue to stay with the thought process that I have right now, and continue to execute when I need to, then we’re going to be all right.”