Enhanced Box Score: Nationals 4, Cubs 3 – May 4, 2023
That was just perfect. A perfectly-constructed final two innings, maximizing the pain. They designed the sport that way, and boy did the Cubs make good on it. I’m sick right now. Five one-run losses in the last week.
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For the second straight game, the Cubs could not score off of a pitcher they should really have been knocking around. It was frustrating, again, though the Cubs did have a decent bit of hard contact. Not nearly enough.
The bats came around in the 8th inning, putting a couple runners on base before Corbin departed, and then Trey Mancini doubled, Miguel Amaya hit a sac fly (he juuuuuust missed it – smoked the ball all day without a hit to show for it), and Nico Hoerner singled to tie the game. The Mancini double was the Cubs’ first extra-base hit in 19 innings.
The Cubs got a leadoff walk from Ian Happ in the 9th, and then Seiya Suzuki doubled to send Happ to third. All the Cubs needed was a ball in play. But Cody Bellinger struck out. Patrick Wisdom struck out. Trey Mancini popped out. And you absolutely KNEW what was coming next. At least it didn’t take long – walk-off homer on the first dang pitch.
Jameson Taillon was mostly really good in his return from the Injured List. Obviously the three-run homer was the big blow, but outside of that, he looked really sharp, especially for a guy coming straight off the IL and missing a couple weeks of action. Javier Assad took the ball from there and was outstanding for five scoreless innings. Brad Boxberger threw one pitch and it was over.
