Chicago Cubs hammered in 15-8 loss and sweep to the Tigers

Lester exits in the third; Castellanos goes 4-for-5

For the first time this month, the Chicago Cubs have dropped three consecutive games after hammering out a seven-game and nine game winning streak to begin August. And like yesterday, the Detroit Tigers used the long ball to end their trip in the North Side with a 15-8 win and sweep of this young club.

Jon Lester (8-9, 3.58 ERA) entered the game with the opportunity to help put his team back into the win column with Jake Arrieta taking the mound tomorrow against the Braves.

Detroit (58-61) tagged him for seven earned runs on as many hits while drawing three walks and striking out four times. They were unable to do any damage in the first inning of the game but jumped all over the veteran southpaw in the second and third frame.

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Nick Castellanos, who finished the game 4-for-5 with five RBI, recorded his 12th home run of the season to put the Tigers in front 1-0. He also hit a grand slam in the third inning which make it 7-0.

His starting pitcher, Daniel Norris 2-2, 4.43 ERA), followed that up with his first big league homer – a two-run shot which extended the lead to three runs.

This young man was responsible for taking out a piece of the new video board in right field during yesterday’s batting practice. He would later leave due to injury but held this young Cubs (67-51) to three earned runs on four hits with two home runs, one walk, and six strikeouts in 4 1/3.

The biggest inning for the Cubs came during the bottom half of the third inning when Dexter Fowler and Kris Bryant each homered to cut Detroit’s lead down to 7-3. It wouldn’t be long until the Tigers came back with yet another homer of their own.

Rookie utility man Kyle Schwarber hammered his 10th home run of the season to center field during the seventh inning to make it 10-6. And yet again, Detroit responded with another three-run seventh inning that featured two RBI doubles and an RBI triple.

Good thing to take away from tonight’s loss is that the St. Louis Cardinals were able to defeat the San Francisco Giants 4-3. This prevented the defending champions from picking up even more ground on the Cubs for the second N.L. Wild Card spot.

Next: Cubs sign Trevor Cahill to deal