Diamondbacks blank Cubs |
CHICAGO - Granted, every team needs the All-Star break to recover, but there are some cases when the break comes at the most inopportune time. That was the case for the Chicago Cubs (47-53), who finally started to show signs of life over the final two weeks heading into the break when they posted an 8-3 mark.
Then came the break, and all of that momentum this team suddenly gained quickly went away at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks (51-48). A lot of fans were worried about that, and in front of another packed crowd at Wrigley Field on Saturday, the Cubs offense struggled for the second straight game as they haven't been able to find their footing out of the break. Despite a solid start from Kyle Hendricks against Zach Gallen, who was far from his best, the long ball made all of the difference, with Arizona connecting for a pair of fifth-inning homers off of Hendricks, leading to three runs. With the Cubs offense being held to just four hits, those three runs would be all Arizona would need as they continue to dominate the Cubs with a 3-0 victory. With so many injuries in their starting rotation and the possibility of Jameson Taillon being traded at the deadline, the Cubs will need Hendricks as much as ever right now. For the most part, Hendricks did all the Cubs could've asked him to do as he opened his start with four shutout innings. Then came the fifth, when he gave up those three runs. He finished his outing with three runs allowed across five innings. Anytime you give up three runs against Gallen, you are asking for trouble, but with Gallen walking six in five innings, he was far from at his best. Unfortunately for the Cubs, they were unable to capitalize on his command issues as they managed to pick up just three hits off the right-hander and four total for the game. Neither team had many chances to break through early in the game, apart from the second inning, when both Arizona and the Cubs had multiple runners on base. Both teams failed to come up with the big hit in those situations which was a big reason why this game was scoreless heading into the fifth. In the fifth, the Arizona bats started to show signs of life and ultimately put the game away with two swings. The first of those swings came off the bat of Alek Thomas, whose one-out homer gave the Diamondbacks a 1-0 lead and proved to be the game-winning hit. The long ball did Hendricks in during the fifth inning as he walked the next hitter after that homer before Corbin Carroll touched him up for a two-run shot to extend the lead to 3-0. Those would be the only runs of the game for either side, as the Cubs bullpen did their job to keep things close, but the offense was unable to pick up the pitching staff. Take the bottom of the fifth inning as a prime example: Nico Hoerner started things off with a walk before a Michael Busch double put runners on second and third with no outs. Three batters later, the inning was over with no runs coming home, with the Cubs continuing to trail 3-0. In what was now a battle of the bullpens, Tyson Miller and Drew Smyly came out on fire as they retired the first seven hitters, only to see Joc Pederson end that streak with an eighth-inning single. Smyly pitched around that single to prevent further damage, but with only six outs left to work with, it was now or never for the Cubs offense. Still holding their 3-0 lead in the ninth, Arizona had a chance to break the game wide open as Gabriel Moreno and Thomas picked up a pair of singles off Hunter Bigge, only to have the rookie right-hander respond with two strikeouts to get out of the inning. You then had Miles Mastrobuoni pick up the Cubs fourth and final hit in the bottom of the ninth with a double setting the Cubs offense up with a chance to end the shutout. It was a small chance nonetheless as Paul Sewald took care of things by retiring the final two hitters he faced as he locked down his second save in as many days. The Cubs were held to just four hits in the game, with Miguel Amaya responsible for two. Busch and Mastrobuoni added the other two hits as the Cubs look to avoid the sweep on Sunday. “They’ve got the players to do it. We’ve seen it, we’ve seen them do it.” “It’s tough when you’re 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.”
Jon Lester on how the Cubs can bounce back. pic.twitter.com/lolmIH26L9
Jon Lester on tonight’s lack of offense. pic.twitter.com/OXT7C69TGR
