Cubs' 9th inning rally comes up short vs. Redbirds |
May the fourth be with you.
The force was not with our heroes tonight as the bats came up just short against the evil Empire (the Cardinals). Miles Mikolas led the Redbirds to a 3-2 win over Jose Quintana and the Cubs. The dagger fell in the form of a three-run home run in the second inning by outfielder Tommy Pham. Former Cub, Dexter Fowler reached on an error by Javier Baez and Jedd Gyorko made it to first on an infield hit to Bryant. Pham slammed a 2-0 fastball into the left-field seats with two outs. It wasn't like the Boys in Blue didn't have their chances either. In the top of the fifth, Baez singled and Ian Happ, who was hitting for Quintana, roped a double into right field to put runners on second and third with only one out. No runs were scored. The ninth inning had the best situational hitting the Cubs have had over the past three games. Despite not leading off the game, Albert Almora led off the inning with a nice single into center field. After Heyward lined out, Baez dropped a 9-wedge single into shallow left field. Tommy La Stella pinch hit for Brian Duensing and drove a 1-1 slider into center field which Pham nearly let past him. Almora scored bringing the Cubs to within two. Ben Zobrist grounded into a fielder's choice scoring another run. With two outs, it was down to Kris Bryant. After fouling back a "hit me" slider, Bryant grounded out to Jedd Gyorko at third to end the game. Quintana's final line wasn't all that bad. He gave up three runs, none of them earned, five hits, four walks over four innings and striking out four. Kyle Schwarber certainly gained some credibility in left field after gunning down Matt Carpenter at home in the first inning. Carpenter rounded third on a weakly hit single by Marcell Ozuna but took an abnormally wide turn which slowed him down enough to be out. Schwarber's throw wasn't pinpoint, but it got the job done. .@kschwarb12 ?? @WContreras40 pic.twitter.com/sq12uay7Da This is the first time the Cubs have lost three in a row this season. They were one of only four other teams prior to tonight to still be in that group. Tomorrow, the Cubs will be back at it again when Tyler Chatwood (2-3, 2.83 ERA) takes the mound against Luke Weaver (2-2, 5.17 ERA). Game time is scheduled for 1:15 PM CDT.
