Cubs run themselves out of a potential win against Giants |
SAN FRANCISCO — It's no secret that the Chicago Cubs (37-44) have been struggling this season. Whether it be their lack of a bullpen trying to close out games, an inept offense that can't ever get a big hit, or the rash of injuries this team has suffered, it has made for tough times on the Northside this season.
However, if there is a silver lining to take away from this season, the Cubs had the same record last season as they have this season, and we all know how they managed to finish. The problem with this year's team is the lack of fire and heart they have shown, which doesn't bode well when you are trying to flip a switch later in the year. Not to mention, 41% of their games have been decided by one run this season, with 43% of their losses coming as one-run decisions, and this team has no margin for error right now. That was once again the case on Wednesday against the San Francisco Giants (39-42), who at one point had more runs than hits. Remember, this Giants team entered this series on a five-game losing streak, but with their 4-3 win on Wednesday, they are now on the verge of sweeping the Cubs. For the third straight game, the Giants took a bullpen approach, although this time, they called up Hayden Birdsong to make his debut. Birdsong was strong early in the game, but a rising pitch count forced him to exit after 4 2/3, allowing three runs and striking out five. Another Hayden himself opposed him as the Cubs went with Hayden Wesneski for what was their version of a bullpen game. Typically, teams don't like to go with bullpen games as they put more innings on arms that don't need the extra innings. However, having a guy like Wesneski who can eat innings is a plus. Like Birdsong, Wesneski was very good most of his outing as he continued to show the ability to put guys away with seven strikeouts in four innings. However, it was the long ball that did him in again as he allowed two hits with both coming off home runs as he was charged with three earned runs in his outing. The Cubs benefitted from a patient approach against Birdsong early on. A pair of walks from Christopher Morel and Ian Happ had the offense in business, while the Pete Crow-Armstrong single gave them their only lead of the game, 1-0. Up early! pic.twitter.com/1bZjfJpY5J It was a lead that didn't last long, as all three of the Giants runs off Wesneski came in the bottom of the second, and they came on just two swings. After walking Patrick Bailey to start the inning, Wesneski bounced back with a pair of strikeouts and was on the verge of getting out of the inning with no damage. Then came the dreaded long ball that had been serving up as Michael Conforto connected for the two-run blast before David Villar followed that up with a solo shot, and the Giants scored three runs on two hits on back-to-back plate appearances. Given how poorly the Cubs offense has been most of the season, many fans were wondering if they had it in them to battle back from another early hole. Wasting a pair of singles from Nico Hoerner and Michael Busch to begin the third wasn't a good start, but the Cubs did benefit from some speed on the bases after Crow-Armstrong worked a two-out walk in the fourth. Looking to move into scoring position, Armstrong was off on the pitch as Miguel Amaya rolled one up the middle for a base hit. Armstrong's speed came into play on that hit as he scored from first on that single to pull the Cubs within 3-2. Speed. PCA is speed. It was a much-needed run after Morel was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double to begin the inning, but the Cubs offense wasn't quite done. Approaching 100 pitches in the fifth, Birdsong was given the opportunity to finish off the fifth to put him in line for his first MLB win. Seiya Suzuki had other ideas as he took Birdsong deep to dead center to bring things back to even 3-3 and chased Birdsong in the process. Brand new ballgame! pic.twitter.com/Ia5N269sjT With Wesneski having his day come to an end, Craig Counsell went to Drew Smyly in hopes of him giving the Cubs multiple innings. Smyly got off to a great start, retiring the first two hitters he faced, only to have Luis Matos answer with a solo blast of his own. Just like that, the Giants retook the lead, as all four of their runs came on the long ball. The Matos homer was the final run of the game for the Giants, as Porter Hodge and Keegan Thompson did a great job of keeping them in check the rest of the way, but once again, this was going to come down to the offense. With one runner thrown out on the bases in this one, the Cubs did their best to give the game away as a leadoff walk by Morel to begin the sixth was wasted as he was picked off to end the inning. It was in the eighth inning when the Cubs delivered their final knockout blow to themselves as the lead off Cody Bellinger single was erased on a double play only to have Happ follow that up with a double. Talk about a par for the course as another Morel walk followed his double, and once again, the Cubs had the tying runner on base. Looking to make something happen, the Cubs got too cute and tried a double steal, only to have Happ picked off by Tyler Rogers to end the inning. It was the third time in the game a runner got thrown out on the bases, and that can't happen for a team that already has a minimal margin for error as it is. With one last shot to tie things up, Camilo Doval was on the mound for the Giants and immediately served up a single to Dansby Swanson to begin the inning. Still standing on first with two outs, Doval gifted the Cubs a crucial error as his errant pick-off throw to first allowed Swanson to scamper to second with Hoerner coming to bat. Despite making hard contact on his swing, Hoerner once again hit the ball right at a fielder as he grounded out to end the game for the Cubs. “It's not as simple as a lone dramatic speech or one thing that the offense focuses on,” Hoerner said after the loss. “I think it's the consistency throughout an entire game of seizing moments. And it feels like the big moments in the game just haven't swung our way.” The Cubs outhit the Giants 9-6 in their loss, with everyone in the starting lineup having one hit. Chicago will look to avoid the sweep on Thursday as they turn to Shota Imanaga as he will face Jordan Hicks. "We took a risk, it didn't work." “Definitely would not have expected us to be at this point.”
Cubs within one! pic.twitter.com/PjV6gaxnbL
Craig Counsell on the caught stealing to end the 8th inning. pic.twitter.com/P24nSNo2J8
Nico Hoerner on the Cubs' 37-44 record halfway through the season. pic.twitter.com/LLmxT2392R
