Tauchman, Taillon shine in comeback win over Mets |
NEW YORK - Monday's game at Citi Field wasn't a pretty sight for the Chicago Cubs (59-55), but it was one this team needed to have happen. After rolling along for the better part of three weeks, the Cubs faced an opponent that, based on paper, should have beaten the New York Mets (51-62).
Not only did the Mets win, but they spanked the Cubs 11-2, as that was a classic case of anyone who can win in baseball on a given day. The only good that came from that loss was it gave the Cubs a chance to rest their bullpen, as they have been used a ton lately. Looking to even things up on Tuesday, the suddenly hot Jameson Taillon took the ball against Carlos Carrasco as a late-game homer from Mr. Clutch Mike Tauchman was the difference as the Cubs took game two 3-2. Going back over his past nine starts, Taillon has not only been one of the better pitchers on this Cubs staff, but he has looked like an ace at times which has helped turn this season around. Taillon continued to pitch the best he has pitched in quite some time, holding the Mets to three hits and allowing two runs in seven innings while also striking out seven. While one starter has been trending upward and the other trending in a different direction, you wouldn't have guessed that based on how Carrasco looked. Like Taillon, Carrasco allowed two runs on three hits and went pitch for pitch with the Cubs right-hander before coming out of the game in the fifth. From there, it was up to the Mets pen to hold things down, and the Cubs got the additional run they would need. Despite Taillon's dominance on the mound, there needs to be a new rule established before Wednesday's game. That rule would be not to pitch to Pere Alonso in the first inning, as he took a Taillon pitch barely over the wall to give the Mets a 2-0 lead. Alonso now has three homers in the series, but two in the first inning as he continues to provide the thunder in the middle of the Mets lineup. When you look at Carrasco's numbers during the season, you had to be thinking there is no way two runs would be enough. After allowing just two baserunners through three innings, with one coming off a Tauchman single, the Cubs offense was left searching for answers early. Leave it to Cody Bellinger to find those answers as his 17th homer put the Cubs on the board in the fourth and pulled them to within 2-1. Belliđź’Ł pic.twitter.com/dp224tGCU7 One inning later, it was a Christopher Morel walk leading things off before Yan Gomes snapped an 0-14 stretch with a double as Morel flew around the bases to make things 2-2. Cubs tie it up! pic.twitter.com/CPNGgZOY1I The Cubs would follow that up with not one but two costly baserunning mistakes later in the inning as they wasted a golden opportunity to push more runs across. After allowing a double to Omar Narvaez in the second, Taillon was about as tough as he could be as he finished off his start by retiring the last 16 hitters he faced to help set things up for the offense late in the game. Not only did the Cubs oblige, but it was the unsung Hero Tauchman coming through again as his solo shot in the top half of the eighth gave the Cubs a 3-2 lead and a lead they would never let get away. Confirmed: This is the summer of Mike Tauchman pic.twitter.com/TSkEDpKt8S Nico Hoerner followed that homer with a single to give the Cubs another baserunner, only to have the inning end shortly after. On to pitch the bottom of the eighth was Julian Merryweather, who had to work around a pair of singles from Mark Vientos and Brandon Nimmo to keep the Cubs in front, and that he did. With this game still up for grabs for both clubs, Buck Showalter went back to his pen and called on Adam Ottavino to pitch the ninth. Despite allowing singles to Jeimer Candelario and Gomes to put a pair of runners on base, the most important thing for him and his team was neither one of those runners scored, as the Cubs were three outs away from securing another win. Enter Adbert Alzolay, as he has been lights out as of late. Even with Lindor leading things off in the ninth with a leadoff single, Alzolay recovered nicely as he got Alonso to fly out to right before inducing Daniel Voglebach into a game-ending double play to even things up 1-1. Tauchman, Candelario, and Gomes led the way with two hits, as Bellinger had the remaining two. With the win, Taillon improved to 7-6 while Alzolay locked down his 15th save in 16 tries. The Cubs go for the series win on Thursday when they send the Professor Kyle Hendricks to the mound to face off with David Patterson.
#Cubs take game 2 in Queens. pic.twitter.com/G4Pfj6xaB9
— Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) August 9, 2023
“As a team right now, the chemistry is so good.”
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) August 9, 2023
Adbert Alzolay on the Cubs’ hot streak 👏 pic.twitter.com/i1j5m6tJ0c
