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Mets series at Wrigley no big deal? Only if you believe the Cubs
- Updated: July 18, 2016
12:25 PM ET
CHICAGO — To set the tone, let’s go back to what young Cubs center fielder Albert Almora said after Sunday’s loss to the Texas Rangers:
“I didn’t even know, to be honest, we’re playing the Mets,” Almora said in his “aw-shucks” manner.
The 22-year-old Almora has been starting in place of the injured Dexter Fowler and has been turning his time patrolling the deep recesses of Wrigley Field into a daily highlight reel. He was at it again Sunday, banging into the wall in the second inning while snagging a Robinson Chirinos drive with two men on base.
As Almora rolled around on the warning track post-collision, he flipped the ball to left fielder Matt Szczur, who returned it to the infield. His catch helped John Lackey minimize the damage in an otherwise precarious inning. Almora is so young — and plays with such abandon — it was hard not to wonder if he hadn’t been aware that there is brick behind that ivy. But, with a little aid from Szczur, Almora popped up, finished the game, and all was well except for the final score: 4-1 Texas.
“It hurt,” Almora said. “It ain’t soft.”
The Cubs say it’s just another series. But you can excuse everyone else for thinking the Mets coming to Chicago is more than simply business as usual — especially considering the teams’ recent history. Aaron Doster/USA TODAY Sports
Almora’s read-and-react approach has served him well. He already has earned a reputation as one of those …
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