Dang it. I wanted that sweep. And Christopher Morel and Narciso Crook both had a chance there at the end for a crazy hero moment, but it didn’t happen. Not mad that them. Just bummed it didn’t happen. I was on my feet.
Red Sox stave off the sweep. Cubs lose. Winning streak over.
In his second inning of work thanks to the extra innings and a thinner bullpen, Rowan Wick was looking like he was going to have a rare great multi-inning effort, and in the 10th and 11th, no less!. He usually struggles in that second inning of work when he’s pushing 30+ pitches, but he was an out away from getting out of a second straight extra inning scoreless. He got the tapper out in front of the plate … but he threw it away. Two runs. Red Sox win.
And yes, you could’ve argued Trevor Story was waaaaay inside the baseline as he approached first base so it should’ve been interference, but the throw was so wild that I don’t think the umpire could justify pulling the trigger.
Not a lot of offense for the Cubs today – an early Willson Contreras RBI single and a late Patrick Wisdom solo homer were it – and a lack of hits with runners in scoring position was a primary culprit.
Prior to the 11th, it was another really good day for the bullpen (including Wick before he threw it away …). Impressive series overall for the Cubs bullpen.
Starter Keegan Thompson had a truly mixed day in every way. He was at times nasty and relentless. He was at other times far too wild. He got lucky on some hard contact. He got unlucky on some soft contact. Ultimately, while I think you could probably argue he deserved better on the basis of the defensive lapses in the prolonged fourth inning, I’d also say that the 21% CSW is pretty horrible, and I just don’t think he had his best today.
Which is OK. It happens. Dude was on a run of three straight great starts, and you would expect some hiccups THROUGHOUT this season as he continues to develop as a starting pitcher. I don’t think we have to say that today was all bad luck. I also don’t think we have to crush the guy. Just a mixed day from where I was sitting.
That, plus the bullpen, would’ve been enough if not for this …