NEWSLETTER
When the Padres went up 6-0, I allowed myself to wonder whether maybe the Cubs could get a little shocking revenge for the huge lead they blew in San Diego in that one game. No dice.
It was a solid return to the rotation for Justin Steele, who went 4.2 scoreless and approached 70 pitches. More or less exactly what you’d hope for, and he looked like his usual self doing it. A very positive takeaway from this game.
Things went off the rails for the Cubs in the top of the 6th, primarily on the strength of four absolute GARBAGE hits in a row. Those weren’t the only hits in the inning – there was also a bases-clearing double – but you’re talking about balls that have a 10 to 20% chance of becoming hits. Usually, you’d get three or four outs on those, not four hits!
Still, the Cubs did have opportunities to come back in this one.
Christopher Morel, having already homered once in the game, had a chance to tie it up in the 7th with another homer, but grounded out – hey, you can’t ACTUALLY expect him to homer every time you need it. He did his part tonight.
The Cubs then loaded the bases with nobody out in the 8th, but PCA and Yan Gomes struck out, and then Nico Hoerner popped out. That was bad. Sure, the Padres went to their quite-good closer for the final two outs, but still. Bad.
