Blue Jays 5, Cubs 1: Kyle Tucker shows some fire

Yahoo

3 days ago

If you think you are frustrated with the Cubs' performance of late, consider what Kyle Tucker did after he grounded out with two runners on base in the seventh inning of the Cubs' 5-1 loss to the Blue Jays:
The thing about that scene is that Tucker is generally one of the calmest, most collected Cubs. He almost never shows emotion on the field. That ought to tell you where the Cubs' mindset is right about now.
As has been the case for so many recent losses, this game wasn't terrible. Cubs pitching was pretty good, just not quite good enough. The Cubs had plenty of baserunners — left 10 on base, and left the bases loaded twice — but simply could not get a key hit at the right time, going 1-for-9 with RISP.
The Jays scored first, on three singles in the first inning. Javier Assad pitched out of trouble after that, and also got himself out of a jam in the second inning thanks to this throw by Ian Happ [VIDEO].
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The Cubs got the first two men on base in the third. Dansby Swanson singled and stole second and Matt Shaw walked, but the next two Cubs were routine outs. Tucker walked to load the bases, but Carson Kelly struck out to end the inning.
Assad made it through the bottom of the third without trouble, but his high-wire act failed in the fourth. He allowed a leadoff single to Daulton Varsho, then hit Ty France with a pitch. Ernie Clement followed with a three-run homer and, well, with the Cubs offense in the funk that it is in, the game was essentially over at that point.
Assad wasn't great, but he wasn't terrible either apart from the home run. What are you going to do?
The Cubs managed a run in the seventh off old friend Tommy Nance. (How is it that the Cubs keep letting go relievers who can't pitch in Chicago and they become solid contributors elsewhere? Nance entered this game with an ERA of 0.77 in 10 appearances.) Swanson led off with a walk and went to third on a single by Willi Castro.
Michael Busch's single scored Swanson [VIDEO].
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With the score 4-1, you might have thought, 'Hey, the Cubs could still get back into this game,' and indeed, dear reader, they tried. Another former Cub turned into a leverage reliever, Brendon Little, entered the game after Nance struck out Seiya Suzuki. There was only one out at the time, but Tucker grounded out. That's the scene you see at the top of this recap.
Kelly then walked to load the bases. Pete Crow-Armstrong was the next hitter, chance to be a hero, etc.
You could have predicted this [VIDEO].
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That, as they say, was that. Ben Brown threw pretty well in relief of Assad, four innings with just four hits and one run allowed, a solo homer by Varsho in the eighth.
Here are PCA and Swanson talking about the current Cubs offensive woes [VIDEO].
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And here are Craig Counsell's postgame comments [VIDEO].
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Forget about the NL Central title, that possibility is basically gone. Somehow, the Cubs have managed to hold on to the top wild-card spot despite losing six of their last nine. And if you think things are bad here, consider the Dodgers, who just got caught for the NL West lead by the Padres. The Dodgers were 56-32 and had a nine-game lead in their division entering the action on July 4. Since then they are 12-20 — only one game better than the Rockies over that span. (The Cubs are 15-16 over that stretch.)
So could it be worse? Yes, it could be worse.
Fact about Tuesday's loss from BCB's JohnW53:
Tuesday's loss was the 10th in a row by the Cubs in the first game of a series on the road. Since winning at Washington June 3, they have lost openers at Detroit, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Houston, Minnesota, New York vs. the Yankees, South Side vs. the White Sox, Milwaukee, St. Louis and Toronto. This is their longest such streak since at least 2000, when they lost 10 in a row.
I don't think I need to remind you how awful the Cubs season was in 2000.
This year's Cubs still can turn things around, but doing that rightfreakingnow would be a good idea. Cade Horton will start for the Cubs in the second game of the series in Toronto tonight. Kevin Gausman goes for the Blue Jays. Game time is again 6:07 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.