Adbert Alzolay dazzles in big-league debut, pitches 4-plus innings to earn victory over Mets

After the homer and walk to start the ninth inning Thursday night, catcher Willson Contreras and the entire Cubs infield gathered around rookie Adbert Alzolay on the mound.

Eventually, the visitors dispersed, only for manager Joe Maddon to then slowly emerge from the dugout and head toward the mound for a pitching change as the teammates reconvened.

The drawn-out moment after Alzolay’s exceptional four-plus innings in his major-league debut allowed the buzz to build in the Wrigley Field stands and for the crowd to give Alzolay a loud standing ovation as he left the mound. The rookie responded with a generous tip of his cap.

“I was not aware of the prolonged hat tip,” said Maddon, whose back was to Alzolay. “He was the happiest pitcher on the face of the earth at that point.”

Steve Cishek took over and made quick work of the Mets for a 7-4 Cubs victory that included a good-enough start from Tyler Chatwood and a six-run, 10-batter third inning that included a triple by Javy Baez, who added his 18th home run in the seventh.

But this night was all about Alzolay, the Cubs’ next best shot at producing a homegrown starting pitcher.

“This is the best thing that ever happened to me right now,” he said after a debut in which he retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced before Todd Frazier’s homer to lead off the ninth. “Amazing how the people were cheering my name and all that.”

Alzolay’s debut jitters lasted a batter or two before he retired 11 straight, including four strikeouts in a row at one point. He showed off a 96 mph fastball, command of an above-average curveball and what he called the best changeup he has ever had.

“I was feeling normal the whole time, when I started jogging to the mound,” he said, “and then when I looked at the first hitter I was, like, ‘Oh my gosh, everything is coming true right now, the thing I always dreamed as a kid.’

“As soon as I got the first out, everything went down, everything was relaxed, and I was like, ‘Just pitch now.’ ’’

Alzolay likely will get a start the next time around in the rotation as the Cubs continue to fill the gap created by Kyle Hendricks’ shoulder injury.

Chatwood, who leaned on his fastball and three double plays to work around enough damage to survive four innings, might also start again next week if the Cubs follow through on a plan to go to a temporary six-man rotation into the All-Star break.

Maddon said Thursday night that nothing had been decided yet.

Maddon, Contreras and first baseman Anthony Rizzo all praised the confidence and poise the kid showed, though Rizzo tempered the enthusiasm of one reporter.

“Let’s pump the brakes a little bit and let him settle into the big leagues and play baseball,” Rizzo said, “before we crown him the next Pedro Martinez, which I hope he is. But let’s let him settle in.”

Strop unavailable?

Two weeks after returning from a hamstring injury and two days after giving up a ninth-inning homer in a loss, interim closer Pedro Strop was unavailable in the ninth inning Thursday, Maddon said.

“I wanted to stay away from him,” Maddon said, who said he’ll use him Friday to close if needed. “I felt one more day of rest would be beneficial.”

Strop threw just 13 pitches Tuesday in his only outing since Saturday.

Did you know?

Eleven of the 50 active players for the Cubs-Mets series this weekend also were on the 2015 NLCS rosters when the teams met in the playoffs, including six Cubs:

Jon Lester, Pedro Strop, Javy Baez, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Schwarber (not counting Addison Russell, who was hurt and not on the playoff roster, and Kyle Hendricks, who is on the injured list now).

The current Mets: Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz, Travis d’Arnaud, Michael Conforto, Juan Lagares.

Florida’s French connection?

A two-city, international team-share program for Rays home games?

Maddon, the former longtime Rays manager, was all for the report Thursday about the Tampa Bay team exploring a plan to play its summertime home schedule in Montreal.

“It sounds really groovy actually,” he said. “I’ve never been to Montreal, but I’ve heard so many wonderful things about it. …

“I don’t see it every happening.”