Chicago Cubs News: Contreras’ effort not enough in Cubs loss

 The Chicago Cubs looked to be in good shape against the Nationals. After Jon Lester went 6 2/3, they turned it over to the bullpen. Unfortunately, things didn’t go too well from there.

The Chicago Cubs bullpen has been good most of the season but has shown some cracks in recent weeks. Today was the epitome of that as the Cubs’ bullpen allowed six runs as they lost a 4-3 lead, watching it turn into a 9-4 defeat. Willson Contreras stayed hot as he hit two home runs, and Kyle Schwarber added one as well. But it was the fault of the bullpen that cost the Cubs this game.

After Mike Montgomery got out of the seventh unscathed, the eighth inning wasn’t as good to the Cubs. Montgomery was pulled for Carl Edwards after giving up a single to Bryce Harper. Ryan Zimmerman doubled, so the Cubs intentionally walked Daniel Murphy. Edwards hit Anthony Rendon with the next pitch to tie the game before Matt Wieters hit his third grand slam to give the Nats the lead and eventually the win.

Watching Contreras over the past couple of weeks, it’s hard to believe that he could’ve been playing elsewhere. The Cubs at one point didn’t protect him in the Rule 5 Draft, and there are 29 other teams kicking themselves right now. Conteras learned to use his emotion to his benefit, and he’s riding that to an MVP-like stretch with the Cubs.

These and other stories you might have missed:

‘Contreras homers not enough as Cubs lose to Nats’ – Cubbies Crib

‘How Contreras almost wasn’t a Cubs’ superstar’ – Cubbies Crib

‘Late-inning walks a thorn in side of Cubs’ pen’ – Cubbies Crib

‘Mariners acquire Alonso in deal with A’s’ – MLB.com

‘Yanks’ Sanchez benched due to poor defense’ – ESPN

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