Mike Montgomery leaves strong impression before likely pen assignment

SHARE Mike Montgomery leaves strong impression before likely pen assignment
screen_shot_2017_07_19_at_4_10_25_pm.png

Montgomery pitched six strong innings and hit his first career home run Wednesday,

ATLANTA  — Lefty Mike Montgomery finished off a 6-0 road trip for the Cubs with one of his best starts of the season – and what may be his last for a while.

Montgomery, who is expected to return to the bullpen when Kyle Hendricks returns from the disabled list after the weekend, took a no-hitter one out deep into the fifth inning and allowed just two in a six-inning performance for an 8-2 victory.

Maddon wouldn’t say what the club’s plans are with Montgomery, but there are no plans for a six-man rotation anytime soon. And Hendricks’ return, combined with last week’s acquisition of Jose Quintana, means all five starters are locked in.

“I haven’t really thought about anything going forward,” said Montgomery, who also hit his first career home run, off knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. “It was just come out here and give this team a good quality start, and it went really well.”

Montgomery made two starts during the 6-0 trip through Baltimore and Atlanta, with the rotation going 5-0 with a combined 2.00 ERA – 5-0, 1.14 in the last five games.

Montgomery made eight starts filling in for the injured Hendricks, going 2-3 with a 5.13 ERA. He has a 2.50 ERA in 19 relief appearances (39 2/3 innings).

Follow me on Twitter @GDubCub

Email: gwittenmyer@suntimes.com

RELATED STORIES

Cubs’ streak solidifies them as buyers

Kris Bryant suffers finger injury


The Latest
Alex Caruso has been looking for a defensive showing like the one he and his teammates put on display in the win over the Pacers, but Caruso also knows it needs staying power. Could Javonte Green help that process moving forward?
Christian I. Soto, 22, was charged with murder, attempted murder and home invasion, officials announced Thursday. Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd said earlier investigators haven’t determined a motive for the attacks.
Can a message generated by an algorithm ever match hearing from a human?
White Sox fans from all over will flock to Guaranteed Rate Field on Thursday for the team’s home opener against the Tigers.
Despite the addition of some new characters (human and otherwise) the film comes across as a relatively uninspired and fairly forgettable chapter in the Monsterverse saga.