I could just post this here and end this recap and every single one of you would understand exactly what the problem is with the Chicago Cubs.
But you come here for a game recap and you shall have one, even though you probably won’t like it.
The Cubs lost to the Astros 4-2 and honestly, with that many runners on base and that many chances to score with runners in scoring position, they really should have scored six or seven runs and won easily.
Not on this day, though.
The Cubs, in fact, had RISP in the
very first inning, when Alex Bregman singled with two out and Ian Happ doubled him to third. But nope, Seiya Suzuki grounded out. The Cubs didn’t have another hit until the fifth, though they loaded the bases with nobody out on a walk by Nico Hoerner followed by two hit batters (Michael Busch and Bregman).
Nope again, Happ struck out, Suzuki popped up and Michael Conforto grounded out.
The Astros, then, had a 4-0 lead on Jameson Taillon by the fifth and it wasn’t all his fault. I want to call particular attention to this sequence in Houston’s two-run fourth. They’ve got runners on first and second with one out and Cam Smith hit a ground ball to Dansby Swanson:
The ball bounced high in the air and as you can see, Swanson tried for a force at second, but was way too late. Then he couldn’t get Smith at first so both runners are safe. Had he just thrown to first, he would have retired Smith and, presuming the next play goes as it did (not guaranteed, of course), that was another ground ball that would have ended the inning. Instead, that force play scored a run and then Christian Vázquez singled in the second run of the inning.
Little stuff like that drives me crazy.
The Cubs again had two runners on in the fifth, nothing doing.
They finally broke through in the sixth after Houston starter Spencer Arrighetti was lifted, Miguel Amaya was sent up to bat for Conforto and singled.
One out later, Pete Crow-Armstrong lofted this long home run to right field [VIDEO].
PCA had himself a good day at the plate, good to see after his, uh, eventful week. He also walked twice and went to third on a missed pickoff throw — only to be, as you could have figured, stranded.
Oh, and that home run? It went a long way [VIDEO].
The home run also broke a 1-for-15 streak for PCA.
Cubs relievers did a nice job in this one. Hoby Milner did give up a single that scored a run charged to Taillon, but after that Ethan Roberts, Jacob Webb and Phil Maton threw four scoreless innings, allowing one hit and two walks and striking out five. Roberts, in particular, has thrown really well since returning from the injured list and I think he’s rapidly moving up on Craig Counsell’s circle of trust list.
The Cubs had another good chance in the eighth. With two out, Carson Kelly was hit by a pitch and PCA drew his second walk. Swanson hit a ground ball to short that was thrown wide by Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña and was safe, loading the bases.
Sigh. Nico hit into an inning-ending fielder’s choice.
In the ninth, Dansby made a play at short that’s worth watching [VIDEO].
Granted, there’s a catcher running but he’s probably 15 feet into left field and made a perfect, accurate throw to first and got Vázquez by a full step. Great defense from Swanson.
The Cubs went down 1-2-3 in the ninth, sparing us more RISP failure. Gallows humor there, a bit, but seriously, the Cubs had tons of chances in this game and cashed in on exactly zero of them. That will have to change to break this losing streak, which has now reached six games.
A couple of game notes from BCB’s JohnW53:
The Cubs had not lost a sixth consecutive game since July 13, 2022, when they were beaten at home by the Orioles, 7-1, after having dropped four in a row on the road to the Dodgers, then the opener to the Orioles, 4-2.
They lost their next three as well, at home to the Mets, before snapping a nine-game skid with a 3-2 win on July 17.
…..
The Cubs are hitless in their last 11 at bats with a runner in scoring position, since Seiya Suzuki’s infield single in the eighth inning Tuesday.They are 2 for 27 since Monday, 4 for 42 since Sunday and 7 for 78 in their last 10 games, beginning May 9.
The last part of that sums up the issues with this team’s offense. They’re getting plenty of runners on base and into scoring position and just… failing.
The Cubs will try to break the losing streak Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field. Colin Rea will start for the Cubs and Kai-Wei Teng starts for Houston. Game time is again 1:20 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.
