3 takeaways from the Chicago Cubs’ series win: Nico Hoerner’s power, and Colin Rea again shows slow heartbeat

Instead, Conforto’s 414-foot barreled ball in the fifth inning Wednesday slammed off the center-field wall just beyond the outstretched glove of the Tampa Bay Rays’ leaping center fielder Jonny DeLuca. Conforto settled for a two-run double with a third run scoring when Dansby Swanson raced home as the Rays committed two errors on the relay. Conforto sparked a five-run frame in the Cubs’ 6-2 win on Wednesday to take the series and move back to .

500 (6-6). “I thought I got it,” Conforto said. “It’s a little embarrassing.

Just watched it, walked out of the box. He almost caught it, too, so I’m glad he didn’t catch it. But it’s a good swing.

” Manager Craig Counsell called the contact they got from Conforto (three hits, three RBIs, two walks) in the last two games an important development. Conforto felt he had been late getting ready to hit and having his hands set, contributing to starting the year with five strikeouts in his first nine at-bats. “Adding another position player and another left-handed bat to something that we can mix and match based on pitching matchups is going to make us more successful and more offensive as the year goes on,” Counsell said after the game.