Chicago Cubs pitching, offense can’t get on the same page in loss

The Chicago Cubs offense and pitching couldn’t work together as they dropped the finale with the Philadelphia Phillies. Jon Lester was off again and made no excuses.

When the Chicago Cubs come to the spot in the rotation held by Jon Lester, they can usually figure he’ll give them six innings or more. But for the second-straight outing, Lester wasn’t sharp as he made it through just four innings while taking the loss that almost wasn’t. Apparently, the memo being handed back from the offense to the defense was on a delay.

Lester went just four innings on 84 pitches. He allowed two home runs with the wind blowing out, but both were likely to find the seats on just about any other day. Only four runs were earned as a Willson Contreras throwing error led to three runs, but Lester was very candid about his performance.

"“Something’s off,” Lester said. “I mean, that’s kind of stating the obvious, but something just doesn’t feel right. Obviously, the last two starts, the results kind of speak for themselves. But I’ve got to figure it out.”"

Putting the team in a 7-0 hole to start the game is never a good thing, but with the wind blowing out? You always have a chance when Wrigley is playing like it was yesterday. Joe Maddon agreed that you couldn’t give up when the wind is blowing out at the Friendly Confines.

"“When the wind’s blowing out like that — I’ve said this before — you do not give up,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “Three runs is a one-run lead, as far as I’m concerned. That’s the way I play it, mentally.”"

The issue with that was the offense and the bullpen wasn’t working together down the stretch. Once Lester exited after the fourth, the Cubs managed to get to Aaron Nola. Using a couple of walks from Kyle Schwarber and Jason Heyward and mixing in a single from Anthony Rizzo and a double play from Albert Almora, the Cubs were on the board with three runs.

Rowan Wick made his first appearance this season out of the bullpen, allowing a run and two hits in his first inning of work for the Cubs. This would be the trend of the afternoon as the Cubs would draw close, while the bullpen would push them farther away.

Schwarber continued to show he might be able to handle the leadoff spot as he homered in the seventh scoring David Bote, giving him two hits and a walk on the day. Anthony Rizzo followed with a solo home run as the Cubs took advantage of the wind blowing out.

Enter Kyle Ryan, who isn’t moving up the list of trusted relievers with me–and likely Maddon. After allowing two hits, Cesar Hernandez grounded into a force out, putting runners at the corners with one out. Brandon Kintzler was brought in to try for the double play as he’s typically a ground ball pitched. He proceeded to allow a long fly ball to center that turned into a double for Andrew McCutchen.

Every time the Cubs were close, the bullpen would give one back. It was even more discouraging as the ninth inning took place for the Cubs. After a Rizzo bunt single and a walk to Contreras, Heyward struck out. Tyler Chatwood would pinch-hit, and hit a double over the head of McCutchen to score Rizzo. The Cubs had the winning run at the plate, but Addison Russell and Victor Caratini failed to get the job done as the Cubs split with the Phillies.

With the struggles the Cubs bullpen seems to be having, they’re still third in the National League. But with injuries and guys pitching in situations they aren’t used to, this can happen until the Chicago Cubs can straighten it out, internally or other.