Another no-decision for Cade Horton as the Chicago Cubs lose 6-1 to the Boston Red Sox

Chicago Tribune

21-07-2025

Let the what-if game begin when it comes to Cade Horton.
Four of the rookie pitcher's most sparkling performances on the major-league level for the Chicago Cubs have resulted in no-decisions.
In no-decisions against Miami, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Boston, Horton has allowed one run on 16 hits in 23 2/3 innings for a 0.38 ERA.
What if he wins those games? His record would be 7-3 instead of 3-3.
The latest one was the roughest. The Cubs came into Sunday's game against the Boston Red Sox with the best record in MLB and facing one of the hottest pitchers in baseball — former White Sox left-hander Garret Crochet.
Horton left the game in the sixth inning with a 1-0 lead and reliever Caleb Thielbar helped get him out of a jam.
But the Red Sox tagged relievers Ryan Pressly, Drew Pomeranz and Ethan Roberts for three home runs and six runs in the seventh and eighth innings. They went on to win, 6-1, in front of a Wrigley Field crowd of 40,433.
Horton gave up two hits, walked three and struck out four in 5 2/3 innings.
'It sucks losing,' Horton said. 'But it's all a process and it's a long season. I just want to continue to get better each and every day and take the positives and the negatives and evaluate tomorrow.'
Cubs manager Craig Counsell liked what he saw out of the 23-year-old Horton.
'He did a nice job and got us into the sixth inning,' Counsell said. 'He is showing confidence in his stuff and how to make adjustments in the game. He went up against a good lineup today and I thought he pitched very, very well.'
Horton gave up the three walks, which led off the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, but he was able to stay clean.
Pressly walked Trevor Story to open the seventh, but he did not fare as well after Wilyer Abreu parked a pitch into the right-field seats — the first of his two home runs in the game — after the Red Sox (54-47) mustered just one run in the first 24 innings of this three-game series.
The Cubs (59-40) are now tied with Milwaukee for the National League Central lead after the Brewers swept the Los Angeles Dodgers, including Sunday's 6-5 road win.
Crochet came into the game leading the majors in strikeouts with 160 and had an 8-1 record with a 2.13 ERA in road games. He was coming off the first complete-game shutout of his career, a 1-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on July 12.
Crochet had not lost a game since May 26. He gave up eight hits and two walks but allowed just one run against the Cubs. Ian Happ singled home Dansby Swanson in the second inning for the lone Cubs run.
'We had a lot of hard-hit balls and a lot of good at-bats,' Happ said, 'Overall, we had some really good swings out there.'
Crochet's ability to get out of trouble was not lost on Horton.
'He's a pro, he's a vet and he knows how to navigate lineups,' Horton said. 'It's really fun to watch. There is a lot to learn from that.'
Horton said he tried not to get too excited facing the Red Sox lineup.
'I don't need to get amped up,' Horton said. 'I think I actually need to slow myself down more. With the environment and facing these guys, I know the energy is going to be there.
'It's all about slowing the game down and controlling it from the jump.'
Before the All-Star break, the Cubs won two of three on the road against the New York Yankees, and after the break, they took two of three against a team that had won 10 straight games.
'This group really believes in itself,' Happ said. 'All of the guys in the room will say that. Just the way we played this series — it was solid fundamental baseball the whole time.'
The Cubs open a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals on Monday and have not announced a starting pitcher.
Using an opener and the rest of the bullpen is an option, but the team used five relievers on Sunday. They could dip into the minor leagues and call up an arm, possibly Ben Brown.
Brown was in the rotation earlier this season and was 1-3 with a 5.30 ERA in eight appearances, including six starts.
Starting pitcher Javier Assad, who has been on the injury list with an oblique strain all season, is scheduled to start his first rehab game since April on Thursday for the Arizona Complex League Cubs when they take on the Athletics.
His catcher?
It will be Miguel Amaya, who also has a left oblique strain and has been taking live at-bats and catching bullpen sessions.
Assad was 7-6 with a 3.73 ERA with the Cubs in 29 appearances in 2024. He is 14-11 with a 3.40 ERA in 70 appearances for the Cubs since making his debut in 2022. He was hurt in spring training this year and suffered a setback in April during his second rehab appearance for Triple-A Iowa.
Amaya was hitting .280 with four home runs and 25 RBIs in 27 games before his injury on May 24.