Jordan Wicks once again flashed really good stuff, racking up a ton of whiffs, but he didn’t quite have the control he needed to stay efficient and keep traffic off the bases. So he twice got himself into trouble with some wildness (or maybe just being a little too fine trying to get a strikeout), and twice the Mariners made him pay.
Those four runs were enough to carry the day, as the Cubs – outside of Michael Busch – couldn’t get much going, and weren’t even making great contact. Bryce Miller is a good young pitcher, and the back end of the Mariners bullpen is solid, so there is some allowance there. But obviously you would like to see more offense than just four hits and three walks overall.
At least Drew Smyly and the recently-returned Keegan Thompson saved the bullpen.