Cubs' Nico Hoerner is 'engine that makes us go'

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PHILADELPHIA — Nico Hoerner coming through with runners in scoring position is becoming a trend for the Cubs.

Hoerner was a key catalyst as the Cubs cruised to a 10-4 win over the Phillies.

In the sixth inning, Hoerner singled on a ground ball up the middle after falling behind 0-2, driving in two runs and giving the Cubs a 5-3 lead.

Hoerner has continued his strong start to the season.

"He's the engine that makes us go right now," manager Craig Counsell said.

Hoerner was 2-for-6 and drove in three runs.

On the season, Hoerner is batting .303 with a .852 OPS. His ability to deliver in big moments has stood out as the Cubs' offense struggled to find its footing early in the season.

"About as high as they get," center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong said of the team's confidence level in Hoerner with RISP. "He's the most complete player in baseball."

Hoerner can sometimes fly under the radar.

He has first-round pick pedigree, a Gold Glove and a six-year, $141 million extension.

But he doesn't have the All-Star status and World Series ring of a Dansby Swanson, nor the electrifying play style of a Pete Crow-Armstrong.

But Hoerner just delivers when the team needs him.

"It's important for us at the bottom of this lineup to be able to turn it over and give him opportunities to produce because more often than not, he does," said Crow-Armstrong who went 2-for-4. "And even a couple of the outs he made tonight were were really good swings."

Pitching injuries

The Cubs’ pitching injuries are piling up.

They put right-handed reliever Ethan Roberts on the 15-day injured list with a cut on his right middle finger.

Counsell said the injury happened before the game Monday when a vent fell and Roberts cut his hand while trying to block it from scratching his leg.

The Cubs’ pitching depth has been depleted, especially among the right-handers.

‘‘It’s happening at a rate which is not good,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘It’s happening to all right-handed pitchers, so that’s why we’re with a lot of lefties right now.

And we’ve had some stuff happen at Triple-A [Iowa] with some expected reinforcements, too.

That’s how you get to this bullpen constitution.

This is not a strategy against the Phillies or anything like that.’’

The Cubs have five left-handed relievers on the roster with Caleb Thielbar, Luke Little, Riley Martin, Hoby Milner and Ryan Rolison.

Little is getting another opportunity to show he can harness his powerful fastball.

‘‘We know the story with Luke: It’s [throwing] strikes,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘I mean, he’s got to throw strikes.

There’s not much to say past that.

Some guys struggle, [and] they have to add velocity.

Or some guys, they have to get another pitch.

He’s got the repertoire.

He’s got the arsenal.

He’s got the velocity.

‘‘But he’s a big man, and a lot of times the thing that big people in this game often work with is being consistent with their mechanics.

That’s just a product of the gift of size. [It] can also [make the] mechanics become a little more difficult.’’

Roster moves

The Cubs optioned left-handed reliever Charlie Barnes to Iowa and recalled Rolison from there.