Top Play (WPA): The Cubs got a very strong start from Jon Lester, who pitched seven innings with just two earned runs and seven strikeouts. The bad news? The Cubs were absolutely shut down by Wei-Yin Chen, who had been really bad in his last few starts—a 9.88 ERA in 13.2 innings in his previous three games. The Cubs were trailing 2-1 in the eighth inning, but Grampa Rossy helped give them a glimmer of hope.
On a 3-2 count against Chen leading off the eighth inning, Ross launched one over the wall to tie the game (+.257). The joy was short-lived, though, because Pedro Strop couldn’t hold down the Marlins in the bottom half of the eighth inning, allowing two runs to send the game to the ninth inning with a 4-2 score.
Bottom Play (WPA): Just when you think the Cubs of the first 65 games of the season showed up again, they pull out the rug. Down two runs in the ninth inning, Addison Russell hit a one-out single on a liner to right field. Albert Almora dropped in a little blooper to center, and all the sudden the tying run was at first base. After a balk by David Phelps moved the runners into scoring position, Ross worked a walk and the bases were loaded for pinch-hitter Chris Coghlan.
But Coghlan struck out, and then Ben Zobrist popped one up to center field and the game was over (-.141). Damn you, fake rally! Cubs lose, 4-2.
Key Moment: With two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, Marlins batter J.T. Realmuto lined one to the left of Cubs third baseman Javier Baez. Baez stumbled to the ground trying to get it, and in the process flipped the ball high in the air. From a laying-down-position, Baez barehands the ball and slings it over to first, with the runner being called out by the first base umpire. That’s where I choose to finish that play, because it was fantastic and probably the best thing you’ll ever see.
I care not for what replay says about this Baez defensive gem.
Trend to Watch: It’s a losing streak. The Cubs have their first four-game losing streak this season, and the biggest culprit right now is the sputtering offense. They’ve averaged just 2.2 runs per game over that small stretch of games, but the offense has really looked bad at times—even against poor pitching, such as Chen in tonight’s game. Part of it can be explained away by injuries, as the Cubs have had some key players have to sit with injuries lately. Jorge Soler, Dexter Fowler, Tommy La Stella, and Kyle Schwarber are on the disabled list, while Miguel Montero and Anthony Rizzo were on the bench with ailments tonight.
Coming Next: The Cubs continue their four-game series with the Marlins tomorrow with another 6:10pm CST start. Kyle Hendricks (2.94 ERA/3.15 FIP/4.11 DRA) will take the mound against Miami starter Tom Koehler (3.92/3.94/4.88). With Jose Fernandez looming in the final game of this series on Sunday, it’s important that the Cubs get as many of these winnable games as possible.
Lead photo courtesy Steve Mitchell—USA Today Sports
Don’t get the facination with Chris Coglan, lousy in Oakland, and really not lighting it up here. Also Strop s just waiting to be lit up in October, he pitches way to many balls. He reminds me of Lee Smith, when he’s on he’s unstoppable, then he loads the bases. I guess the Cubs are regressing to the mean, injuries and a questionable bullpen are rearing their ugly heads.