Cubs sink to last place after loss to Reds |
CHICAGO - Well, here we are at the end of May, and the Cubs have fallen into last place as the Cincinnati Reds (23-29) knocked them off 8-5 at Wrigley Field on Saturday to claim the series win. At some point, the front office of the Cubs will have some difficult questions to answer, and one of those questions has to be the future of David Ross.
Despite all accounts saying his job is safe, this team is vastly underachieving, and when that happens, the manager tends to take the blame. The question now becomes how much is his fault and how much is the product that the front office has given him. One of his newest pieces is starting pitcher Jameson Taillon, who has had a season to forget thus far. At some point, you have to think Taillon will figure it out and turn it around, but how long can the Cubs wait for that to happen? With an ERA over 8.00 entering his start on Saturday, Taillon was given two extra days rest in hopes of grabbing his first win of the season. Taillon appeared well on his way to capturing that first win in the game's early stages until things went south in the fifth. It was in that inning when the Reds scored three times to take the lead for good, as Taillon was unable to get out of that inning. Taillon gave the Cubs 4 2/3 innings of one walk and five strikeouts baseballs as the command is not an issue. His inability to go deep into games is as he was charged with four earned runs again as the long season continues. Opposing Taillon was the young left-hander Brandon Williamson who was also looking for his first career win. Making his third career start, Williamson was hit hard early and labored through 4 1/3 inning as he also allowed four earned runs. Fortunately for him, the offense, in particular Johnathan India, and his five RBIs, backed him up as the Reds took another game from the Cubs 8-5. Not only did Taillon get off to a fast start, but so did the Cubs offense, with Dansby Swanson picking up a one-out triple and coming home on an Ian Happ double to make things 1-0 in the first. Cubs are on the board!@ihapp_1 pic.twitter.com/4LKx6ALVbb The Cubs had a chance for more, but Williamson escaped without further damage. Looking to battle back in their half of the second, Tyler Stephenson had the Reds in business with a one-out double before coming home on the Nick Senzel single to tie things up 1-1. Despite the Cubs scoring five runs, most came in the first couple of innings as the Cubs started to bust things open with a three-run second inning. Singles from Yan Gomes and Patrick Wisdom had the Cubs offense in business, with Nico Hoerner making things 2-1 with his two-out RBI single. Top of the order is getting it done! pic.twitter.com/aCQ3wjJLwA The next hitter was Swanson, who picked up his second hit in as many at-bats to put the Cubs in front 4-1. Dansby Swanson hits a stand up triple after an incredible effort by TJ Friedl That was the last of their offense for quite some time as the Reds began to take control and never looked back. After pulling within 4-2 in the third with an India single, it was the fifth inning when the Reds offense came to life as they took the lead for good off of Taillon and the Cubs pen. The toughest part about that inning was all three runs came with two outs as TJ Friedl worked a two-out walk before stealing second. Friedl would come around to score on the Matt McClain single, but the India homer gave the Reds the lead for good and had them in front 5-4. GIVE HIM THE VIKING HELMET 💥 The Reds continued to build on their lead in the sixth inning as Michael Fulmer struggled with his command by walking two hitters in the frame. On the verge of working out of trouble, Curt Casali ensured that wouldn't happen as his RBI single extended the Reds lead to 6-4. The next inning same story as it didn't matter who the Cubs trotted on the mound. This time it was Jeremiah Estrada getting beat as a leadoff single to McClain was followed by a second India homer as the Reds opened up an 8-4 lead and had the Cubs on the brink of another series loss. Estraded would allow another single to Jake Fraley later in the frame but managed to get out of the inning without further damage. Needing offense late in the game, the Cubs hoped Ian Gibaut would be their solution as Mike Tauchman ripped a leadoff single up the middle. That was followed by a Hoerner walk as Tauchman would eventually reach third with one out. Set up with a huge RBI spot, Happ came through with a sacrifice fly, but with two outs, the Cubs only managed to push one run across and still trailed 8-5. Not ready to go down yet, the Cubs had one last hurray left in them as they tried to solve Alexis Diaz in the ninth inning. Entering the ninth at a perfect 10/10 in save situations, Alexis and his brother Edwin have 226 career saves, which is the third all-time among brothers. Diaz didn't make it easy on himself by hitting Tauchman and allowing a single to Hoerner, but he did what he does best by locking down the game for his 11th save as the Reds took down the Cubs 8-5. The top of the Cubs order did all the damage, as they combined for five of the eight hits and drove in all five runs.
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/KIPgr8tS81
Jonathan India gives the Reds the lead with a 2-run shot!!
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/e2HLx0Lwug
