Cubs suffer first back-to-back losses in doubleheader with Padres |
San Diego pitching struck out 14 Cubs and Christian Bethancourt hit a solo homer to shut out the Chicago Cubs 1-0 and sweep a doubleheader on Wednesday. It was the first time the Cubs had lost back to back games all season and the deepest the Cubs have gone in a season without losing consecutive games since 1907. The last team to go this long in the season before losing consecutive games was the 1929 Philadelphia A's.
The loss spoiled a great outing by John Lackey (4-2, 3.54) who gave up just three hits and struck out seven in eight innings. Lackey had a perfect game going until Bethancourt hit his solo homerun in the fifth inning. Chicago (25-8) had their chance in the eighth inning when they loaded the bases after Alexei Ramírez dropped a pop up in the infield that would have ended the inning. However, Jorge Soler struck out to end the threat. Soler had strikeouts in all four at-bats on the evening. In the ninth, the Cubs also had the tying run at second with two outs and red-hot Ben Zobrist at the plate, but he hit a grounder back to the pitcher to end the game. Drew Pomeranz (4-3, 1.80) got the win for the Padres, giving up just three hits and striking out ten. The two teams combined for just seven hits on the night with the Padres having just three hits. The Cubs will have Thursday off and will return to action on Friday evening against Pittsburgh when Jason Hammel (4-0, 1.85) takes on Francisco Liriano (3-1, 3.60).
