Chicago Cubs: Contreras injured, Giants win series over Cubs

In what was a pitcher’s duel Wednesday afternoon, the Chicago Cubs come up short in the rubber match against the San Francisco Giants Wednesday afternoon.

It was a good old-fashioned pitchers duel at the Yard Wednesday afternoon between the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants from AT&T Park.

Up against one of the best pitchers in Madison Bumgarner, the Cubs had an opportunity with two hits in the first inning but couldn’t score. It’s those fleeting opportunities that can come back to bite you against the games’ best.

That was the case as the Cubs came up short against the Giants 3-1.

Slingin’ aces

Kyle Hendricks continues to look like the 2016 Cy Young candidate version. San Francisco’s only run off Hendricks came when Joe Panik singled home Pablo Sandoval.

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The Giants made Hendricks work but he was able to come up big and strand base runners when needed. He threw 96 pitches, lasted 4 2/3 innings pitched, and allowed one earned run on five hits. He struck out five and walked three.

Albert Almora made good on a third consecutive start homering off Bumgarner in the third inning.

Bumgarner threw seven innings for a third consecutive start. He allowed one earned run on four hits, struck out seven and walked one. Bumgarner has only allowed three earned runs in that span.

Listless

Almora and Ben Zobrist each had a pair of hits for the Cubs but besides Almora’s home run, there wasn’t much of anything else offensively for the Cubs.

Mike Montgomery and Brian Duensing pitched in relief. The go-ahead run scored off Duensing in the seventh when Jarrett Parker singled home Denard Span. That snapped a scoreless streak for Duensing dating back to June 29 against the Padres.

Hunter Pence homered off Strop to make it 3-1 the 8th inning.

Willson Contreras left the game in the 8th inning, appearing to injure his hamstring when running to first base.

Next: Resigning Jake Arrieta looking more and more unlikely

What’s next

The Chicago Cubs are off Thursday and pick things up with the Arizona Diamondbacks Friday evening at 8:40 pm C.T. from Chase Field.

John Lackey (9-9, 4.81 ERA) makes the start for Chicago. Arizona is starting Taijuan Walker (6-5, 3.60 ERA).