The Cubs blew a 4-0 lead and then lost in extra innings. That’s the headline, and it ain’t good.
We’ll have more on Javier Assad’s second start tomorrow, but the short version is pretty similar to the first outing: I love the pitch diversity, and I think that could be what makes him a successful depth starter (and maybe even back-end starter). I also think he was fortunate tonight with all the balls in play, and I think he’s gotta cut down on the non-competitive balls out of hand. Way too many throwaway pitches that shift counts, and allow hitters to settle into a comfortable advantage. It would become a problem eventually.
Erich Uelmen was initially very much what you want him to be in relief of Assad, going groundout, groundout, groundout in his first inning of work. It’s what he does at his best. But then he was brought out for a second inning, wound up in a 10-pitch PA with Matt Chapman, and wound up going walk, single, homer before being pulled.
Manny Rodriguez thereafter was initially very much what you would want him to be in relief of Uelmen, going groundout, groundout, groundout in his first inning of work. Ah, but then he, too, came in for a second inning of work, and wound up giving up a run.
I get it. David Ross can’t use Brandon Hughes in every single relief inning, and the Cubs also need to see what’s what with a lot of these younger guys (specifically, for tonight: how well can they handle getting in, sitting down, and then going back in – it’s not for every reliever). I hate to see blown leads in the meantime, but I suppose I have to remember that these nights are in service of development and information-gathering.
In the 10th, Nelson Velazquez got doubled off of second base as the free runner when Ian Happ lined one up the middle. It must’ve looked like a hit off the bat to Velazquez, but he also must not have noticed that Bo Bichette was positioned up the middle and had a pretty clear play on the ball. So no run scored for the Cubs in the top of the 10th. But the Cubs pulled off their own unique double-play in the bottom of the 10th to keep the Blue Jays off the board. With runners on first and second, Christopher Morel leapt for a bouncer at third, forcing the runner there, and then threw to second base for another out.
The Cubs ran into another out on the bases in the 11th, when Franmil Reyes tried to take two on a blooper. That was the FIFTH OUT on the bases for the Cubs in the game. And it let the Blue Jays walk it off in the bottom of the 11th.