The Cubs had three home runs in this game, the second time they’ve gone deep three times in the early going in 2026. Matt Shaw, Dansby Swanson and Ian Happ homered for the Cubs.
Unfortunately, the result was the same as the other time they homered three times (a 6-3 loss to the Nationals). This time, it was a 6-5 loss to the Guardians
, giving them a split of the Sunday doubleheader and a loss in the series.The game began like the first game had been all along — scoreless, with the teams seemingly
not able to hit anything.
Shaw’s home run in the third gave the Cubs the lead [VIDEO].
The Cubs extended their lead to 3-0 in the sixth. With one out, Carson Kelly singled. One out later, Swanson smacked his first home run of the season [VIDEO].
Meanwhile, Shōta Imanaga was mowing down Guardians hitters. He had allowed just two hits and a walk through five innings, then Steven Kwan doubled leading off the sixth. That was it for Shōta, who had a nice outing, throwing 92 pitches (62 strikes). Here’s more on Imanaga’s afternoon [VIDEO].
That was a good outing from Imanaga and he did not allow a home run. So, progress!
Ben Brown relieved Imanaga and, to be frank, was just awful. He couldn’t throw strikes — only 22 in 42 pitches — and allowed two walks, two hits and a sacrifice fly in the sixth, one of the runs charged to Imanaga, and Cleveland tied the game 3-3.
Brown was better in the seventh, retiring the side 1-2-3. I am still beginning to wonder what spot Brown actually has on this team. He’s clearly being used in a long relief role. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. It’s very early in the season, but so far, the Cubs pen, a strength last year, has been shaky.
Happ, who was having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, led off the eighth for the Cubs.
He had struck out the first six times he batted Sunday afternoon — all four times he batted in Game 1 of the doubleheader against the Guardians and the first two times in the nightcap. That was followed by a fly out in the sixth, making him 0-for-7 on the day.
Happ homered in his eighth PA of the day, his fourth long ball of the young season [VIDEO].
Facts about Happ’s six whiffs from BCB’s JohnW53:
Ian Happ struck out six times, something a Cub had done 165 times before in back-to-back games. A Cub has had seven strikeouts 27 times and eight strikeouts eight times.
Twenty-seven of the 165 with six whiffs also hit a home run, including two who homered twice: Byron Browne, in 1966 and Sammy Sosa, in 2000.
But only five before Happ struck out six times in a doubleheader, and none of them hit a homer:
Hank Sauer, 1951 (9 PA, 1 for 9, double)
Dee Fondy, 1953 (8 PA, 2 for 8, single and double)
Bobby Morgan, 1957 (9 PA, 2 for 9, single and double)
Billy Cowan, 1964 (10 PA, 2 for 10, two singles)
Derrek Lee, 2024 (9 PA, 1 for 9, double)
Unfortunately, Jacob Webb could not hold the lead in the bottom of the eighth. CJ Kayfus hit a one-out homer off Webb to tie the game, and then a single, walk and another hit gave Cleveland a 5-4 lead. So far — and yes, I realize it’s early — the signing of Webb isn’t looking too good.
Ethan Roberts, up as the 27th man for the doubleheader, relieved Webb. The first hitter he faced, Austin Hedges, singled to drive in a run to make it 6-4. That run, unfortunately, turned out to be really important for the Guardians.
Cade Smith came on to throw the ninth for Cleveland. And the Cubs rallied off him with two out, scoring a run and getting the tying and lead runs to scoring position.
Smith got Pete Crow-Armstrong on a fly to short right and struck out Moisés Ballesteros. Then Nico Hoerner and Alex Bregman walked. Happ singled in Hoerner to make it 6-5 [VIDEO].
Scott Kingery ran for Happ and took second on defensive indifference.
But Carson Kelly struck out to end the game [VIDEO].
Give the Cubs credit, at least, for not folding with two out in the ninth and at least putting together a rally. But they are going to have to revisit some of the bullpen structure. So far, only a few of the relievers have been reliable.
Some doubleheader facts from John:
This is the first time since at least 2015 that the Cubs have alternated losses and wins through nine consecutive games.
….
The Cubs have not swept a doubleheader on the road since Sept. 11, 2015, when they won at Philadelphia, 5-1 and 7-3. They are 6-12 in games of nine subsequent twin bills on the road, including today. Today was just the third time they won Game 1. The two others both were at Cincinnati, on Aug. 29, 2020, and Sept. 1, 2023.
The Cubs move on to Tampa Bay, where they will open a three-game series against the Rays Monday afternoon. It’s the Rays’ home opener and first game back at Tropicana Field, which has been renovated after the roof was destroyed in Hurricane Milton in October 2024.
Jameson Taillon will start for the Cubs and Shane McClanahan will go for the Rays in the series opener. Game time Monday is 3:10 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.
