Enhanced Box Score: Reds 5, Cubs 0 – June 30, 2017
Oh no, the Cubs are bad again!
I can’t even tell about what part I’m kidding anymore. Because by now, we know what we know: the Cubs, collectively, are not a great team this year. They have some guys who are banged up but playing. They have some guys who are banged up and out. They have some guys who are simply underperforming consistently.
Thus, losing ugly games like this one just a day after a great win … well, it is what we should expect.
For the most part, the offense was wholly ineffectual tonight, as though it were missing a number of starters (because, well, yeah). The Cubs did not notch a hit until the 6th inning off of Scott Feldman, who dominated them like a guy who could fetch a nice return in a flip trade.
Moreover, in the friendly confines of Great American Ballpark, the Cubs couldn’t get any of their deep fly balls to leave the yard, and in baseball, the difference between a deep fly ball and a home run is both very small (in feet) and very large (in runs).
Mike Montgomery gave up a three-run homer and a run-scoring bunt, which means he gave up four runs (math!) … but, you know, he actually pitched really well. I think the command looks good, the stuff has always looked good, and he was impressive. Sure, it sucks to lose the game, but I think you could at least take a positive away from this: a continued belief that the Cubs might have something in Montgomery as a starter.
Other than that, there’s not much to enjoy tonight …
