Chicago Cubs Reaction: Wasted opportunities cost the Cubs in opener

The Chicago Cubs’ Kyle Hendricks wasn’t sharp. Neither was the Cubs bullpen. But it was the offense that squandered several chances late that hurt the Cubs the most.

Seeing the Chicago Cubs‘ Kyle Hendricks give up so many runs this early in the season is disheartening. Until you realize this is pretty similar to how he started last season. In Hendricks’ first three starts last season he allowed 10 earned runs over 18 innings pitched. In his first two starts this year he’s allowed seven over 11 innings. And two of the runners that scored today against him were allowed to cross the plate thanks to Justin Grimm.

It was a tough situation to enter into the game on for Grimm. First and third with nobody out? Not ideal. But the two-run double to Francisco Cervelli was the straw that broke the camel’s back. The Pirates had rallied from a 2-1 deficit to take a 4-2 lead after the sixth.

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Bullpen holds to give Cubs a chance

But the Cubs bullpen held strong from there. Brian Duensing made his first appearance since coming off the 10-day DL and pitched a solid inning. Hector Rondon returned and showed no ill effects from the other night, and Mike Montgomery pitched the ninth without allowing a run.

The killer came in the eighth and ninth innings as the Cubs threatened–but couldn’t get the key hit that they seemed to come up with last year to get the win. The two-out rally in the ninth gave hope. But it was that eighth inning that would have Cubs’ fans thinking “man, we had a chance”.

Squandered chance in the eighth

After a Kris Bryant walk and an Anthony Rizzo hit by pitch to start the inning, the Cubs’ seemed to be in business.  Two on, nobody out and the World Series MVP at the plate. But things didn’t turn out as well as they did last year. Not only did Ben Zobrist not drive in a run, he struck out, failing to move over the runners. Addison Russell then hammered a pitch to center, but right at Starling Marte.

For the second time this season, Jason Heyward beat out an infield hit to keep the inning alive. Not only does Heyward continue to put it all on the line, his numbers are improved this year. His hustle kept the chance alive for Willson Contreras. But on a 0-2 count, Contreras grounded into a force out at third.

Next: Cubs will only get better moving forward

It’s not that the Cubs only scored two runs. It’s early in the season. It’s that the chances were there. Gerrit Cole pitched a solid game, but the bullpen is the area of the Pirates that’s fallible. And the Cubs had their opportunities. But we chalk this one up and look to tomorrow.And they’ll have the advantage as Jake Arrieta will face Tyler Glasnow of the Pirates. Time for the Cubs to get things together in tomorrow’s game on offense.