The Cubs took a nice early lead in this game, but then, as has been the case so many times in recent days, simply could not bring many baserunners in to score, going 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position. (If it makes you feel any better — it didn’t for me — the Red Sox went 2-for-13 with RISP.)
Anyway, all that added up to a frustrating 4-3 loss to Boston at Fenway Park and another setback in the effort to have some home games at Wrigley Field next week.
The Cubs got on the board right away in
the top of the first. With one out, Seiya Suzuki walked, then one out later, Tyrone Taylor smacked an RBI double off the Green Monster [VIDEO].
The Cubs put two more on the board in the second. Matt Shaw led off with a double and stopped at third on a single by Michael Busch. Dansby Swanson hit a ground ball to thirdon a contact play that resulted in Shaw being thrown out at the plate [VIDEO].
Busch stopped at second on that play, and then Miguel Amaya drove in both runners with this double [VIDEO].
The Red Sox put a run on the board in the third. Roman Anthony led off with a walk and, well, those are always trouble. Adley Rutschman singled, with Anthony taking second.
Then this happened [VIDEO].
That’s a very rare error by Swanson as he tried to make an off-balance throw to complete a double play. Instead, a run scored to make it 3-1.
The Red Sox tied up the game in the fifth. A leadoff single by Isiah Kiner-Falefa and double by Anthony put runners on second and third with nobody out. Clay Holmes retired Mickey Gasper, but then Craig Counsell summoned Caleb Thielbar to turn Rutschman around to batting right-handed. That’s statistically the right move this year as Rutschman has been much worse vs. LHP in 2026.
Welp. Didn’t work. Rutschman hit a two-run single to tie the game.
While all this was going on, the Cubs were leaving runners in scoring position — again, leaving RISP in the fifth and seventh. The first of those was PCA after his 41st steal of the year. Fun facts about the 41st PCA stolen base from BCB’s JohnW53:
MLB batters have hit at least 45 home runs in 166 seasons since 1901.
Pete Crow-Armstrong is the third with at least 41 stolen bases.
Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers had 54 homers and 59 steals in 2024.
Alfonso Soriano of the Nationals had 46 homers and 41 steals in 2006.The fourth-most steals is just 33, by Larry Walker of the Rockies, who hit 49 homers in 1997.
The Red Sox took the lead in the seventh. Anthony tripled with one out off Aaron Civale and scored on a double to left by Connor Wong.
That was it, pretty much. The Cubs went down 1-2-3 in the eighth and ninth and with this loss, dropped to 88-72, which is 1.5 games behind the Padres for the top wild card spot and only half a game ahead of the Phillies, who currently inhabit the third wild card spot. Let’s hope the Cubs can take the nightcap.
Alex Bregman returned from his frightening injury from Sunday and was the DH in this game. He went 0-for-4, but at least hit the ball hard several times. Hopefully, some of those hard hits will fall in going forward.
We don’t yet have any confirmed information about the third game of this series, currently scheduled for Fenway Park Saturday at 6:15 p.m. CT. The weather is supposed to deteriorate quickly in the Boston area late tonight and multiple reports have both teams’ planes scheduled to fly to Florida this evening, and that the game will be played Sunday at Tropicana Field. If and when this is made official I will post separately on the front page.
There are no lineups for Game 2 at the time this recap posted, so check BCB social media for the Game 2 lineups. Here’s all the rest of the info you’ll need for the nightcap of today’s doubleheader.
David Peterson, LHP vs. Brayan Bello, LHP
David Peterson’s last two outings have been quite good — 12 innings, six hits, two runs, 14 strikeouts.
He last faced the Red Sox Sept. 4, 2024 at Citi Field and allowed one run in six innings, striking out 11. Among current Red Sox players, only Willson Contreras (2-for-11) has faced him more than five times.
Brayan Bello’s 2026 season has not been nearly as good as his 2025, though in his last start, Sept. 19 vs. the Rays, he threw eight innings and allowed one run, striking out 11.
He last faced the Cubs July 19, 2025 at Wrigley Field and allowed three runs in six innings, including a home run by Michael Busch.
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Here is the weather forecast for the area around Fenway Park. It still looks like they’ll be able to get this game in before the nor’easter hits the Boston area.
Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network.
Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.
MLB.com Gameday
Baseball-reference.com game preview
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The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
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