Were you so inclined, you could say things like “well, it’s really impressive that the Cubs’ pitchers threw seven scoreless innings after the first,” or “well, the bats kept on trying and trying, and did get it to within a run.”
But I am not inclined. For tonight, I’m just frustrated.
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For the second game in a row, the Cubs’ starting pitching allowed the game to slip away before it had even really begun. It’s incredible that the pitching thereafter – including by starter Jake Arrieta – held things down for as long as it did, but a four-run deficit is always hard to overcome, even when the bats are clicking.
And on that front, they’re not really clicking. Hitting with runners in scoring position is just one of those things that is mostly very noise-filled, but good God. Another night of the Cubs going an abysmal 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position and leaving 10 on base, when any number of balls in play or balls that fell in would have completely changed the game. It’s maddening.
Also maddening: twice, Kris Bryant was rung up on a “swinging” strike three on which he checked his swing (definitely successfully the first time, arguably successfully the second time). Which, hey, it happens. But it happened twice in a row, and both times the home plate umpire made the call without even checking with the first base ump. It’s a ridiculous move that smacks of arrogance, and it makes me sick every time I see it. So to see it twice in this one – each of which may have not-so-indirectly led to a run – was extremely galling.
But, leaving that alone for now, I can come back to the fact that the Cubs lost this game. They had their chances – again – and lost.
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