Chicago Cubs: Takeaways from the team’s Opening Night loss

Apr 2, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Randal Grichuk (15) celebrates after hitting a walk off single off of Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Mike Montgomery (not pictured) during the ninth inning on opening night at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Aside from Grichuk, clutch hits few-and-far-between

St. Louis outfielder Randal Grichuk ended the night with a pair of hits and three RBI, including the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth.

Chicago Cubs

The image of Grichuk racing to first with his fist raised in triumph is what will stick in the minds of Cubs’ fans – and probably Cardinals Nation, as well. But that image certainly doesn’t encapsulate the performance we saw from either team Sunday night.

Despite winning 4-3, the Cardinals went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position – with the lone knock coming in the form of Grichuk’s ninth-inning single. The big hit seemingly evaded St. Louis the entire night – unless Grichuk was at the plate.

His other two RBI came in the form of an opposite-field, two-run blast that, at the time, appeared to be the proverbial nail in the coffin. In the other dugout, the visiting Cubs couldn’t have felt a whole lot better.

Timely hits evade both teams

Chicago went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position, thanks to Contreras’ game-tying home run in the top of the ninth. The Cubs enjoyed a one-out, bases-loaded situation in the eighth that quickly got away from them.

Give some credit to Carlos Martinez and Jon Lester. Each did their job – and did it well. But these two clubs are too good to combine for a .118 mark with runners in scoring position.

Aside from Grichuk, clutch hits few-and-far-between

Chicago Cubs

Timely hits evade both teams

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