August 2, 2018 Cubs.com, Hamels impressive, victorious in Cubs debut https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/cole-hamels-earns-win-in-cubs-debut/c-288426734 Cubs.com, Kintzler makes scoreless Cubs debut on b-day https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/brandon-kintzler-added-to-cubs-roster/c-288433384 ESPNChicago.com, New Cub Cole Hamels shines after getting early run support http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24260244/cole-hamels-picks-win-chicago-cubs-debut NBC Sports Chicago, Cole Hamels etches his name in Cubs history books with sparkling debut https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/cole-hamels-etches-his-name-cubs-history-books- sparkling-debut-chatwood-no-hitter NBC Sports Chicago, Theo Epstein expects Cubs to take control of their own destiny https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/theo-epstein-expects-cubs-take-control-their-own- destiny Chicago Tribune, Cole Hamels on adjustments needed after his Cubs debut: 'Things will get more routine' http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-cole-hamels-adjustments- 20180802-story.html Chicago Tribune, A Cole Hamels back to his old self is just what Cubs need http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-cole-hamels-debut-sullivan- 20180801-story.html Chicago Tribune, Demotion upset Cubs relief pitcher Randy Rosario, Joe Maddon confirms http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-randy-rosario-20180801- story.html Chicago Tribune, Cubs' Joe Maddon discounts rumors, sticks to scouting report on Brandon Kintzler http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-brandon-kintzler-reputation- 20180801-story.html Chicago Tribune, Occasional rest will be best for Kris Bryant, Cubs during 23-game stretch http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-kris-bryant-20180801-story.html Chicago Tribune, Cole Hamels whiffs 9 in Cubs' debut and coasts to 9-2 victory over Pirates http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-cole-hamels-pirates-20180801- story.html Chicago Tribune, 3 things we learned from latest Cubs-Pirates series http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-three-things-20180801- story.html Chicago Tribune, Cubs considering alternate routes to Wrigley Field to avoid Thursday's anti- violence march http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-plan-for-protest-march- 20180801-story.html Chicago Sun-Times, Cole Hamels strikes out nine, beats Pirates in Cubs debut https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cole-hamels-beats-pirates-cubs-debut/ Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs new reliever Brandon Kintzler: `I don’t want my character being questioned’ https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-brandon-kintzler-clubhouse-issue/ Chicago Sun-Times, Here’s hoping Yu Darvish returns to health soon and makes the haters pay https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/chicago-cubs-yu-darvish-injury-contract-haters-espn-alex- rodriguez/ The Athletic, Cole Hamels leaves great first impression on Cubs: ‘He can be a tremendous difference-maker for us’ https://theathletic.com/455897/2018/08/02/cole-hamels-leaves-great-first-impression-on-cubs-he- can-be-a-tremendous-difference-maker-for-us/ The Athletic, After being labeled as a bad clubhouse guy, Brandon Kintzler wants to clear his name and win in October with the Cubs https://theathletic.com/455656/2018/08/01/why-the-cubs-will-welcome-brandon-kintzler-into- their-clubhouse-especially-after-washingtons-whisper-campaign/ The Athletic, Are Yu ready for some baseball? Because the Cubs are in for a possibly tough, possibly fun two months https://theathletic.com/454578/2018/08/01/are-yu-ready-for-some-baseball-because-the-cubs-are- in-for-a-possibly-tough-possibly-fun-two-months/ -- Cubs.com Hamels impressive, victorious in Cubs debut By Carrie Muskat PITTSBURGH -- Cole Hamels made a good first impression for the Cubs. Hamels picked up the win in his Cubs debut, collected his first hit since 2016, and even got his first at-bat before he took the mound. The Cubs gave the lefty a four-run cushion in the first inning, and Willson Contreras added a two-run homer in the eighth to post a 9-2 victory over the Pirates at PNC Park on Wednesday night. "You want to be able to win a game for your new team and the guys here," Hamels said. "They've been playing outstanding baseball all season, and you kind of want to get in the mix. For them to put up the runs early, it made my job a little easier." Contreras finished with three RBIs, while Javier Baez reached base in five consecutive at-bats and picked up an RBI in the first to raise his National League-leading total to 83. But this game was about Hamels, and especially his changeup. He got six of his nine strikeouts on the pitch, tying for his most since his no-hitter against the Cubs on July 25, 2015. "All year, my changeup has been horrendous," Hamels said. "That's been the focus I've had these past couple weeks is to get back to what I know I'm comfortable with. This is the reason I made the league when I was so young, is because of my changeup. That's what I had the most success on. "Today, I was able to execute them and keep my mechanics the way I'm comfortable in doing to really let that changeup work." Hamels even got an assist from first baseman Anthony Rizzo on hitting and pitching. The Pirates had runners at first and second with two outs in the first and catcher Contreras and Rizzo went to the mound. Contreras wanted to make sure they had the signs straight. Rizzo chimed in with pitch selection. "I think all three of us were trying to call pitches," Hamels said. "It's good when you can get some good input from the first baseman. That's coming from a pretty good hitter when you think the same pitch and you're all spot on, it's a good feeling. He told me what to throw, and I'm on it." In the fourth, when Hamels hit his infield single, who gets credit? Rizzo. "Rizzo had a really nice bat there for me to choose, and I'm glad I chose right," said Hamels, who admitted his first two at-bats felt as if he were swinging underwater. It was the lefty's first hit since July 17, 2016, when he did so for the Rangers against the Cubs in an Interleague game at Wrigley Field. Chicago had acquired Hamels from the Rangers on Friday, and he scattered three hits and walked two over five innings, striking out nine. The only run off him was unearned. Hamels had not pitched since July 23, and he said the layoff affected his fastball command. The fact that Hamels has postseason experience means he won't be wide-eyed as the Cubs head into the stretch run. "He's definitely not going to be influenced or overwhelmed by anything," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "Just conversationally, he's a pretty solid individual. Winning an MVP in a World Series, which I witnessed [in 2008], he's pretty good. He's kind of the right fit regarding ability and personality, demeanor, experience level. Look at his stuff, and I'm watching the video and I'm not seeing [anything] different from a couple years ago. "I know he's excited, we're excited. He could be a tremendous difference-maker for us." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED First things first: While Hamels got his first at-bat in the first, Pirates starter Nick Kingham needed 51 pitches to get through the inning. The Cubs had runners at second and third, and a run scored on Jason Heyward's groundout. Ben Zobrist, who was on base, then tallied on an error by second baseman Sean Rodriguez, who booted Baez's grounder. Ian Happ ended an eight-pitch at-bat by getting hit by a pitch. Then Baez showed off his baserunning skills when he broke to steal third. Kingham's throw sailed for an error, allowing Baez to score. Kyle Schwarber added an RBI single that Rodriguez had trouble fielding to open a 4-0 lead. "It's probably the first time in my career I've had two at-bats before the third inning," said Hamels, who struck out in the first and grounded into a fielder's choice in the second. Relief: Brandon Kintzler, acquired from the Nationals on Tuesday, celebrated his 34th birthday and Cubs debut by pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief. Instead of flying to Pittsburgh, Kintzler got in a car and took a 4 1/2-hour ride. It's only the second time this season he's pitched more than one inning. The other time was also at PNC Park on July 10. The right-hander's arrival was perfectly timed because it meant Maddon could give relievers Steve Cishek, Jesse Chavez and Pedro Strop the night off. "That's the value of Brandon tonight," Maddon said. "We needed him to do that tonight. We stretched him out, and I think he was good with it." Said Kintzler: "It's part of the challenge with a playoff-contending team. You've got to stretch it out." SOUND SMART Hamels did not give up an earned run and struck out nine in his debut while collecting a hit. According to STATS Inc., the only other pitchers to do that in their first games after switching teams were Nolan Ryan (1972 Angels), Roger Clemens (2004 Astros) and John Smoltz (2009 Cardinals). "He's a great competitor like we had talked about," Maddon said of Hamels.