The Cubbie Coaster Continues
The Chicago Cubs split their four game set against the Marlins, as the offense sputters again in Miami.
It’s sadly becoming too much of a theme for the 2017 Chicago Cubs, the inconsistent play from day to day continues to plague any sort of winning streak and continues to make fans question if the Cubs will ever pull away from the Central Division in 2017.
Once again the pitching was pretty solid on Sunday afternoon, a first inning error by shortstop Addison Russell would prove to be the biggest blow of the game, as three runs would come across in the first inning for Miami. Addison would then leave the game with shoulder tightness, he’s day to day. The big hit of the inning came on a Martin Prado’s two out double that scored Justin Bour and Marcell Ozuna. Mike Montgomery would go on to pitch a solid game though, giving up just 3 runs (none of which were earned) and four hits across six innings at Marlins Park. Another quality outing for Montgomery and this starting rotation on Sunday, but spoiled again by an inconsistent offense.
It’s not like the Cubs didn’t have their chances in this game, Anthony Rizzo came up twice with the bases loaded, but could only deliver a sacrafice fly in one of those plate appearances to bring home Tommy La stella from third. It was encourging at the time as the Cubs cut the lead to 3–1 in the fourth inning. The next inning the Cubs would get one more on a Tommy La stella sacrafice fly to center to score Willson Contreras from third and cut the lead to 3–2. It was another good sign for the Cubs seeing how they came back from down 3–1 the day before, but the Cubs couldn’t muster much else the rest of the game.
This game was frustrating to say the least considering that the Cubs walked seven times and out hit the Marlins eight to five in the game, the Cubs just couldn’t get a big hit all game, as has been the theme this year. Some costly mistakes also cost the Cubs the game today, in the seventh inning a missed hit and run from Contreras had Ian Happ dead to rights on a steal attempt to second, it was Joe Maddon’s way of trying to stay out of the double play that has haunted this offense as well. The Cubs split the series with Miami and take the overall series four games to three over the Marlins for the year.
Unfortunately it doesn’t get any easier for the Cubs as they head to Washington to face one of the best rotations in baseball and one of the best offenses in baseball. The Cubs are now a 1 1/2 behind Milwaukee in the division. First pitch is set for 7:05 E.T. in D.C. on Monday night. It’ll be Cubs’ right hander Eddie Butler squaring off against National left hander Gio Gonzales.
Ross Adams grew up watching the Cubs on WGN in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina and has become as loyal and diehard as they come to baseball on the North Side of Chicago. Ross is pursing an English degree and Journalism minor at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
