Aroldis Chapman makes perfect debut with Cubs

CHICAGO — The sellout crowd at Wrigley Field stood on their feet Wednesday night, but instead of paying attention what was happening on the field, they stared breathlessly at the scoreboard.

Even the Chicago Cubs’ players admitted to peeking at the scoreboard after every pitch, with everyone wanting to catch new Cubs’ closer Aroldis Chapman’s radar gun reading in the ninth inning.

Chapman started off at 101 mph, and then 102 mph, and ended the game with Avisail Gacia staring at a 103 mph fastball over the heart of the plate.

Just like that, Chapman has changed the way Cubs’ fans watch baseball, turning a Cubs’ 8-1 rout over the Chicago White Sox into a subplot for his ninth-inning thrill ride.

“You can’t help but look,’’ Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler said, “wondering how fast he’ll throw next. He must have been tired tonight, right? He only threw 103 mph.’’

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The man was that electric, with Chapman throwing 12 pitches at 100 mph or faster in his Cubs’ debut, keeping every single fan in their seats.

The boisterous crowd of 41,166 actually started cheering when they saw Chapman make his way towards the Cubs’ bullpen in the seventh inning. It grew louder watching him warm up. When he strolled towards the mound, they stood on their feet, turning the cheers into a deafening roar, screaming, “Let’s Go Chapman.’’

“It was entertaining,’’ Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “The crowd was excited, and I was, too. I’ve seen it on the wrong side, it’s nice to have it your side. He’s unusual. You just don’t see that.’’

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If there were any boos at all because of Chapman’s domestic violence incident nine months ago, they were drowned out by wild cheers. There were no protests outside of Wrigley Field. No signs.

Really, the only sign of anger was from Chapman himself, who was incensed at the line of questioning from his introductory press conference Tuesday, with several Chicago columnists ridiculing the Cubs for acquiring him.

When he came into the clubhouse, he initially declined to talk to the media. He was seen animatedly waving his arms, his voice rising, shaking his head. It wasn’t until 30 minutes later that he reluctantly agreed to answer a few questions, still upset over Tuesday’s press briefing.

“It’s over with,’’ Chapman said, with catcher Miguel Montero acting as his interpreter. “Just got to move on. It happened, so want to move past that.’’

Chapman showed just why the Cubs believed it was essential to have him if they’re going to end their 108-year World Series drought.

“He’s an unbelievable pitcher,’’ Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward said. “The thing with him is that it’s just not his 100-mph fastball. He could always throw hard, but now he controls all of his pitches, makes pitches when he needs to, and has confidence in everything he throws.

“That’s what makes him so tough.’’

Just ask the White Sox.

Jose Abreu was the first man to face him in the ninth inning.

Chapman threw a 101-mph fastball for a strike. Abreu fouled off a 101-mph fastball, and then a 102-mph fastball. And then flailed away on a 91-mph slider.

One out.

Then, it was Todd Frazier’s turn, his former teammate from their days in Cincinnati together.

Chapman threw him a 101 mph fastball. A 102-mph fastball. A 92-mph slider. Another 101 fastball. A 103-mph fastball. And got him out on a grounder to shortstop.

Two out.

Now, it was Garcia’s turn.

He saw nothing but fastballs: 101, 100, 100, 102, and then froze at 103.

Game over.

Good morning. Good afternoon. Good night.

Chapman, who has now saved 21 of 22 games, has now struck out 46 batters and walked just eight in 33.1 innings.

And, oh, boy, just wait until he faces the National League Central the rest of the summer, where he has saved 41 consecutive games with a 0.43 ERA.

“We’re going to have some crazy fun around here this summer,’’ Montero said. “I told him, 'Just like Cuba, right? He just laughed.'’’

Now that the awkward introductions are over, with Chapman watching the way the crowd reacted to his every pitch, even he was seen smiling walking out of the clubhouse into the night.

“It was fun, a pretty exciting moment,’’ Chapman said through Montero. “The adrenaline was pretty good even though it was not a save situation. It was just fun to hear the crowd.’’

If the Cubs keep winning, and Chapman keeps pitching like this, he ain’t heard ‘nothin yet.

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