Padres double up Cubs in Steele's return |
CHICAGO - At some point, you knew the Chicago Cubs (21-15) would get healthy, and that appears to be happening now. After finding out that Cody Bellinger and Seiya Suzuki should be back in the lineup by next week, there was a sense of excitement in the air as this lineup has desperately missed both of them. However, when you think of excitement, look no further than Monday night's starter as left-hander Justin Steele returned from the IL to make his second start of the season against the San Diego Padres (19-19).
It was only fitting that he returned to the mound in front of the home fans at Wrigley Field as the 35-plus thousand were anxious to see what he could do. Matched up against former Chicago Cub Yu Darvish, Steele was expected to be on a pitch count, and despite that, he looked as if he never missed a beat, tossing 4 2/3 scoreless frames with one walk and two strikeouts. He gave the Cubs everything they could've asked for and more, but once again, it was a tough outing by the bullpen. The Padres' six-run sixth inning was the difference in this one, as they came away with a 6-3 win. The loss will overshadow what Steele did on the mound, but you can't help but notice how well Darvish pitched on the other side. After getting lit up like a Christmas Tree earlier this season against the Cubs, Darvis was back at it on Monday and looked like a completely different pitcher. He walked one and struck out five while scattering three hits in five scoreless frames. His ERA is now sitting at 2.94, as he has pitched phenomenally well apart from that one start. Anytime two ace pitchers match up on the mound, runs are going to be at a premium, which was the case early on. Steele a look little bit to settle in, while the Cubs wasted a Nico Hoerner leadoff double to begin the game as missed opportunities were the theme for them all night. There was one point in the game where both pitchers dominated on the mound, but with both of them on a pitch count, you knew that neither would go deep. Both pitched into the fifth, with Darvish finishing the fifth and Steele coming just short as Richard Lovelady closed out the fifth to keep things scoreless. Lovelady was the center of attention in the top half of the sixth as he was the one saddled with the loss, but he deserved a much better fate than he had. It all started with a bloop single from Fernando Tatis Jr. to right, as the Padres had the leadoff man on. A Jake Cronenworth infield hit followed that up to put two runners on, while a costly double steal moved both runners into scoring position. That forced Craig Counsell to pull his infield, which benefitted Jurickson Profar, who rolled one just out of Nico Hoerner's reach to put the Padres in front 2-0. Enter Daniel Palencia, who was looking to build off his dominating outing against Milwaukee on Sunday. Back-to-back singles from Xander Bogaerts and Donovan Solano didn't help as the Padres extended the lead to 3-0 with still no one out. Palencia then walked a man to load the bases before the bases-clearing double from Luis Campusano broke the game wide open and gave the Padres a 6-0 lead. Palencia would eventually settle in, but after the bullpen allowed six runs before retiring a man, the Cubs were put in a difficult spot late. Facing a massive uphill battle, it would be up to the offense to bring them back as they went to work against Yuki Matsui and the Padres pen. One of the many free agent targets by the Cubs this winter, Matsui has been as good as advertised this season, but Christopher Morel touched him up for the two-run shot and pulled the Cubs within 6-2. Morel has been on a heater lately, as he has five homers in his last seven games including four in his last five. Fewest games to hit 50 home runs with the Cubs 💣 Following the rough outing by the Cubs in the sixth, Colten Brewer and Adbert Alzolay were the next two out of the pen for Counsell, and they did their job to keep the Padres off the board and give the Cubs offense a chance. Brewer had the best outing of his short stint with the Cubs as he struck out two in two scoreless frames. The long ball continued to play a massive role for the Cubs in the bottom of the seventh, with Yan Gomes (2) taking Matsui deep for another homer as the Cubs crept within 6-3. That forced the move to Wandy Peralta, and with Mike Tauchman adding a double ahead of the Ian Happ walk, the Cubs were threatening for more, only to have Peralta escape trouble. Although trailing by three, the Cubs lost this game in the eighth inning as their game of missed opportunities came full circle. It all started with a Patrick Wisdom walk, and once again, it was time to go to the pen with former Cub Jeremiah Estrada entering the game. Known for throwing 51 consecutive fastballs last season, the Cubs kept the pressure on Estrada as Dansby Swanson worked another walk ahead of the Nick Madrigal single, and just like that, the Cubs loaded the bases with no outs. All this team needed to do was make contact, and at worst, one or two runs would score. However, as the fans have seen far too often, this team struggles to get the job done with runners on. That was again the case here, as Robert Suarez came on to strike out both Pete Crow-Armstrong and Gomes before getting Hoerner to fly out as the Cubs failed to score. Suarez then came out for the ninth to retire the side in order as the Cubs dropped the first game of this series 6-3. The Cubs had seven hits in the game as Madrigal and Tauchman paced the offense with two. Next up for the Cubs is Shota Imanaga, who looks to remain perfect on Tuesday. .@Cubs starters have gone four straight games without allowing a run for the first time since 1901. pic.twitter.com/aYSkxHAFll “You just kinda want to show up to the ballpark and play each day.”@J_Steele21 has allowed 1 ER or less in four of his last five starts at Wrigley. pic.twitter.com/8u17cHPbEn
Kyle Schwarber - 216
Kris Bryant - 231
𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐥 - 𝟐𝟓𝟓
Ernie Banks - 265 pic.twitter.com/3x8AYKBPXf
