Game Recap: Twins double up Cubs as NL Central race tightens

Jesse Johnson - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese · Senior Writer · 9 hours ago

MINNEAPOLIS - It's amazing how fast things can change during a baseball season. When the Chicago Cubs (54-38) entered this week's series with the Minnesota Twins (45-47) at Target Field, they were riding a wave of momentum after opening the month of July with a 5-1 start.

Then you looked at the pitching matchups for the Cubs in this series, and you not only liked their chances to win this series, but to possibly sweep the Twins. Here we are, two games into the series, and the team has not only dropped both games but has also trailed in every inning of the series.

This one was decided by some sloppy defense, as a pair of uncharacteristic defensive errors led to early runs, allowing the Twins to race out to a 3-0 lead. Those runs wound up being the difference in the game as the Twins doubled up the Cubs 4-2. Once again, it was another shaky start in the early innings for a Cubs starter, with Cade Horton being the victim this time.

Sure, he walked two and struck out five, which is all you can ask for, but with four runs and six hits allowed in just 4 2/3 innings, he had to work extra hard to even last as long as he did. As was the case on Tuesday, it was the Twins offense that came out swinging as they jumped on the Cubs for two runs in the first for the second consecutive day.

Once again, it was Byron Buxton playing a key role, as he led off the game with a hit by pitch before using his speed to steal second. Horton nearly managed to escape that inning without trouble, only to have a Ryan Jeffers single and a Carlos Correa double lead to two runs as the Twins opened up a quick 2-0 lead.

Another scoreless inning from the Cubs in the second was followed up by a Matt Wallner home in the third as Minnesota was now in front 3-0. Not only was that hit the game-winning hit, but it was all the offense David Festa would need, as you would never have guessed this guy had an ERA north of 5.00 entering this start.

Festa was far from perfect as he walked two and struck out three across 5 1/3 innings, but with only two runs allowed, he did what he had to do on the mound to give the Twins a chance. Still trailing 3-0 in the fourth, the Cubs finally had something going against Festa as Kyle Tucker led the fourth off with a single before a pair of walks to Seiya Suzuki and Michael Busch loaded the bases with one out.

Anytime you have an opportunity like this, you need to capitalize, but given Dansby Swanson's struggles with runners on base, this had a game-changing moment feel to it. While Swanson may not have done a ton of damage, he did manage to get the Cubs first run home as he picked up an infield single to keep the bases loaded.

His single was followed by a Nico Hoerner fielder's choice, but once again, the Cubs were unable to get the big hit they needed as they continued to trail 3-2. Immediately after watching the Cubs score two in their half of the fourth, it was the Twins offense responding as Royce Lewis connected for a one-out double before advancing to third on the Wallner single.

It was at that moment when the Cubs committed an uncharacteristic error, as Wallner purposely executed a delayed steal to force a throw to second base, which allowed Lewis to score and put the Twins back in front by two, 4-2. Those were the final runs of the game for either side, although the Twins had their chances several times against the Cubs pen only to come away empty.

Not only have the Cubs failed to lead in a single inning in this series, but all of their runs have come in just two innings, resulting in 16 other scoreless frames. That isn't going to cut it, and this does have one of those feelings like the Cubs are playing down to their competition. Considering the Brewers continue to win and have closed the NL Central gap to 1.5 games after sweeping the Dodgers, the Cubs need to show some urgency to get back to their winning ways.

Chicago was held to four hits in the loss as Tucker, Swanson, Busch, and Jon Berti each had one.

The Cubs will look to avoid the sweep on Thursday afternoon when they send Colin Rea to the mound against Chris Paddock.