Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Crumbling Cubs lose 5th straight 1-run game

Written by 
Published in Baseball
Sunday, 22 September 2019 17:37

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs keep making history, just not the kind they want, as their season continues to fade away.

On Sunday, they became just the second team in 100 years to get swept at home in a four game series and lose all four by a single run. They also became the first major league team since 2011 to lose five straight one-run games. It's the first time it's happened to the franchise since 1915.

Chicago is now four games back of the Milwaukee Brewers for the second wild-card spot.

"If you play back the tape, it's almost unbelievable that it turned out this way," an incredulous Joe Maddon said after losing 3-2 to the St. Louis Cardinals. "The last six have been wash and repeat."

The Cubs completed their home schedule losing their final six games at Wrigley Field, five by one run, as they also lost to the Cincinnati Reds, both Tuesday and Wednesday, before the Cardinals swept them. It's all but dashed their playoff hopes.

"How did it that all happen?" Maddon asked rhetorically. "How did we lose all those four games? They were one run better than us every night, and we were really evenly matched, and that's all I will concede."

Three of the four losses to the Cardinals came with the Cubs leading or with the game tied in as late as the ninth inning.

On Sunday, starter Yu Darvish was attempting to finish off his first complete game of the season, but everything changed after Jose Martinez hit a triple to lead-off the inning. Three batters later the Cardinals took the lead for good when Paul Goldschmidt doubled home Tommy Edman who had singled.

Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel blew Saturday's save and was unavailable for Sunday's contest, but Maddon said he would have left Darvish in the game either way.

"I saw Jake (Arrieta) pitch pretty well when he won his Cy Young, but this is like equivalent of all that," Maddon said. "He absolutely deserved a better fate."

Darvish has been a strikeout machine for the Cubs, fanning 12 more in 8.1 innings on Sunday. In doing so, he became the fourth different Cubs pitcher, since 1920, to record at least 10 strikeouts in three consecutive games.

"It's tough, for sure," Darvish said. "But we did our best."

A dazed locker room tried to put into words a last week that saw their playoff odds plummet from 77% entering Monday to 2.4% on Sunday, according to Fangraphs data.

"Just not really sure how that happens," outfielder Ian Happ said. "It's bad luck. It's a lot of things. And it's not fun. We played pretty good baseball. It just didn't turn our way."

Anthony Rizzo added: "This is growing pains. You take the good with the bad, wherever you can, and you learn. And try to grow as a person."

The Cubs play their final six games of the season on the road and could be without Kris Bryant who sprained his ankle as he hit first base early in Sunday's game.

Read 25056 times

Soccer

Galaxy dominate Rapids in MLS Cup Round 1

Galaxy dominate Rapids in MLS Cup Round 1

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. -- Rookies Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil scored first-half goals, Riqui Puig...

Wave season finale moved over field safety fears

Wave season finale moved over field safety fears

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsSunday's NWSL regular-season finale between San Diego Wave FC and R...

Ten Hag on Utd exit: 'Dream has come to an end'

Ten Hag on Utd exit: 'Dream has come to an end'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsErik ten Hag has thanked Manchester United fans for their support i...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Nuggets' Murray exits game, in concussion protocol

Nuggets' Murray exits game, in concussion protocol

EmailPrintMINNEAPOLIS -- Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray was placed in the NBA's concussion protoc...

Brown critical of 'Ray Lewis'-like foul on Tatum

Brown critical of 'Ray Lewis'-like foul on Tatum

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsJaylen Brown had 25 points in the Boston Celtics' 124-109 victory o...

Baseball

Report: Montgomery opts in for $22.5M in '25

Report: Montgomery opts in for $22.5M in '25

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsAs anticipated, left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery exercised his...

Giants' Snell, 2-time Cy Young winner, opts out

Giants' Snell, 2-time Cy Young winner, opts out

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsSAN FRANCISCO -- Left-hander Blake Snell has exercised his right to...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated