The Cubs entered the nightcap of their twin bill in full-on freefall mode (by 2016 standards), on the heels of one-game losing streak that had spanned the course of several hours. And now, despite an absolutely superb effort from John Lackey, the losing streak has stretched to a world-shattering two games, as the Cubs fell to the San Diego Padres, 1-0.
In a sentence we here at BP Wrigleyville have had rare occasion to write this season, the Cubs offense struggled throughout much of the night. They failed to advance a runner past second base until the eighth inning. Padres pitchers racked up 14 strikeouts, including six combined of Javier Baez and Jorge Soler in the middle of the lineup. Dexter Fowler added three whiffs from the top of the order, and the team mustered just four hits.
While the offense languished, Lackey was tremendous, retiring the first 12 batters he faced. After surrendering a home run to Christian Bethancourt and a Jose Pirera single with two outs in the fifth inning, he retired the next eight batters. Lackey finished with seven strikeouts and zero walks. It was just the fifth time since the start of 2014 he recorded at least seven punchouts without issuing a single free pass. More and more, he’s looking like 2013-2015 Lackey, as we discuss in Trends to Watch.
Drew Pomeranz wasn’t as sharp as Lackey, but he proved every bit as effective, picking up 10 strikeouts and holding the Cubs scoreless, despite allowing six baserunners in six innings of work. It just wasn’t the Cubs’ day or night. Over 162 games, these things tend to happen.
Top Play (WPA): As you might expect, there are some slim pickings here. Pomerantz departed after six innings, and Kevin Quackenbush worked a perfect seventh inning. The Padres then called on lefthander Brad Hand and his 1.80 WHIP to work the eighth inning. Hand opened the inning by striking out Ben Zobrist and Fowler. After walking Jason Heyward, Kris Bryant reached on an Alexei Ramirez error. It was, for all intents and purposes, the Cubs’ offensive highlight of the evening. (+.073)
Bottom Play (WPA): As we detailed above, the Cubs offense mounted their only threat in the eighth. With two outs, Heyward drew a walk. After Bryant reached on the Ramirez error, Anthony Rizzo walked to load the bases, and Wrigley buzzed and appeared primed to erupt at the possibility of more late-game heroics. That brought to the plate Jorge Soler, who had struck out in three previous at-bats and entered the game batting .133/.188/.133 in May. Soler once again seemed out of sorts, and ended up whiffing on Hand’s 2-2 curveball, ending the threat (-.196).
Key Moment: It’d be hard to look past the Soler strikeout as the contest’s key moment. For the only time all night, the Cubs offense had momentum and the home crowd behind them. Soler, however, just looked out of sorts at the plate all night, and his 2016 strikeout rate is now over 26 percent.
Trend to Watch: Lackey went eight innings for the second time in three starts, after doing in three times in all of 2015. In doing so, his ERA fell nearly a half run to 3.54. After a so-so April (4.97 ERA and .772 opponent’s OPS), Lackey and his .333 BABIP have returned to form. He was excellent on Wednesday night.
Up Next: The Cubs are off Thursday before starting a three-game weekend series with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jason Hammel will get the ball in the first game, looking for his second win against the Pirates in 10 days. Last Monday in Pittsburgh, Hammel went five innings, allowing two earned runs on a walk and five hits. He mostly stayed away from his four-seam fastball in favor of his slider and sinker. The Pirates will counter with lefthander Francisco Liriano, who is off to an okay start this season (3.75 DRA and 25.3% K). In 2015, he was outstanding in two starts against the Cubs, allowing just three earned runs and striking out 18 combined in 12.2 innings. The Cubs will look to start a new winning streak, as your weekend begins at 1:20 PM Friday.
Lead photo courtesy Kamil Krzaczynski—USA Today Sports