Chicago Cubs bullpen fails to hold Angels in close loss

The Chicago Cubs dropped the second game of the series to the Los Angeles Angels 6-5 on Saturday. The walks issues hit the pen once again, as they issued seven free passes.

It was a nice streak for the Chicago Cubs bullpen. They were shutting down opponents, giving the Cubs offense a chance to win each game. Yesterday that went up in smoke as the bullpen issued seven walks–two with the bases loaded–as the comeback came up a run short in the 6-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

Kyle Hendricks was unable to keep pace with his fellow starters Cole Hamels and Jose Quintana, but it wasn’t a terrible outing. Hendricks allowed three runs (two earned) over five innings of work. When he left the game, it was 3-2, and the Cubs were still in it. With a bullpen that had looked impressive over the last three games, hopes were high that the Cubs could come back. They did, but the bullpen didn’t hold up their end.

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Brad Brach–who had been one of the most consistent out of the pen–walked three, including the pinch hitter Albert Pujols with the bases loaded. Brach was pulled for Randy Rosario who entered the game, walked a batter to score another and was right back out.

Peter Bourjous added a sacrifice fly to make the score 6-2, and the Cubs chances seemed to be dwindling. But then they go and get our hopes up, and we can’t help but believe they’ll pull it off. With Mark Zagunis pinch hitting, the rookie battled off several tough pitches before singling to center field, scoring two.

Now we get to the bottom of the ninth, and this is where you need to understand, these guys care about EVERY game, regardless of how good–or bad–they’re hitting. After Ben Zobrist flew out to start the inning, Anthony Rizzo draws a walk. Javier Baez hits a single–that he somehow turns into a double, and the Cubs are in business.

Red hot Jason Heyward hits one towards the left field line, where Brian Goodwin slides to make the catch. He drops it in fair territory, Rizzo scores and the Baez slides over to third. If that ball scoots more than five feet from Johnathan Lucroy, Baez is going for it.

Closer Cody Allen attacked Kyle Schwarber with curveballs in the dirt, several that he offered at. The last one–he didn’t. I’m positive about it. But third base umpire Gabe Morales saw it differently. Needless to say, Schwarber did NOT agree with the call.

After starting the season hot, Schwarber has seen his numbers dip. To be honest, everyone but Heyward, Daniel Descalso and Willson Contreras (who had a HORRIBLE at-bat in the ninth) have seen production fall. Now, the Cubs don’t win if this appeal goes the other way. But that was a 50/50 call that, well, it was wrong. I thought that in real time, and after seeing the replays, I’m sure of it.

This was a chance for three in a row, but instead, the Cubs drop to 5-9. This was a tough one to take in. But the truth is if you walk eight men (seven by the bullpen), you should lose that game. The bullpen is improving, this we know. But there’s still work to do.