Chicago Cubs lose to Grichuk’s walk-off HR in 9th, 4-3

The Chicago Cubs lost a taught game on a ninth-inning walk-off home run by Randal Grichuk, 4-3. The blast came off reliever Adam Warren, in his second inning of relief. He got the first two batters in the ninth, but not Grichuk.

The Cubs (29-14) had a strong pitching game from John Lackey, who was cruising at 6 2/3 innings, only giving up one run and three hit, and pinch-hitter Matt Adams hit a two-run homer to tie the game.

Lackey (4-2, 3.31 ERA) finished the inning and did not come out for the eighth.

The Cubs appeared to be on the verge of breaking through at the plate. They had nine hits and four more baserunners in walks but did not come up with a big hit. In the top of the fourth, the Cubs had the bases loaded and Addison Russell at the plate.

He hit into an RBI-producing fielder’s choice and the Cubs only came away a run.

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Chicago got another run in the top of the fifth inning when Kris Bryant walked, hot-hitting Ben Zobrist walked and Anthony Rizzo hit a broken-bat single to left to plate Bryant.

Rizzo broke a 1-for-27 slump with his single. The Cubs had a 3-1 lead.

Chicago appeared to take control of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. Lackey had struck out nine Cardinal batters and needed to get one out in the seventh when Adams sent a drive deep to centerfield. Game tied at three.

It came down to the bullpens and St. Louis (24-21) prevailed. Grichuk had hurt the Cubs in the past and tonight he hit a blast to right field. Warren took the loss in relief.

The Cubs seem to be a funk. They lost two games to the San Francisco Giants. Jason Heyward narrowly missed getting a serious injury on a play he made of Denard Spann of the Giants. He is expected to perhaps play in the Cardinals series.

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The Cardinals win chips away at the Cubs lead. It was once fairly large but is now not as large.

Cubs President of Baseball Operations, Theo Epstein, spoke of the way the Cubs had been playing earlier to start the season. He said there will be challenges, it is not going to go as “easy” as it had gone.

The Cubs put it dazzling numbers to start the year. Now, it looks like they are coming back to earth. There is plenty of baseball to be played.