Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (8/12/24): Guardians 9, Cubs 8 – Big Rally Falls Just Short in Cleveland

The Cubs and Guardians played a wild game at Progressive Field Monday night that featured big swings in momentum and eventually ended up being decided by a single run. Cleveland was able to outlast Chicago with a run in the bottom of the 8th and held on for a 9-8 win.

The Cubs took the lead with a pair of home runs against Guardians starter Ben Lively. Birthday boy Ian Happ mashed a two-run homer in the 3rd and Pete Crow-Armstrong lined a solo shot in the 4th to put the road team ahead 3-0. Shōta Imanaga had almost no issues in the first three innings before he ran into big trouble in the 4th.

A walk and an error by third baseman Isaac Paredes put two men on with two outs in that frame. Josh Naylor whacked an RBI single off of Imanaga and then outfielder Jhonkensy Noel pounded a go-ahead three-run homer to left field to put Cleveland up 4-3.

Steven Kwan followed with a two-run bomb in the 5th inning to increase the margin to 6-3. By the time Noel hit his second dinger in the 6th, the Guardians were on top 8-3. Chicago could have given up at that point but they battled back to make it a game.

Dansby Swanson hit a bases-loaded double against Scott Barlow to bring home three runners as part of a four-run 7th inning that brought the North Siders within one at 8-7. Seiya Suzuki hit a sacrifice fly after an 8th inning double by Patrick Wisdom as they came all the way back to tie the score.

Unfortunately, Cleveland responded in the bottom of the frame when Naylor chopped a ground ball over third base for a run-scoring single. That tally allowed the home team to use elite closer Emmanuel Clase, who got the Cubs quickly in the 9th to preserve the 9-8 victory. (Box score)

Key Moment

Imanaga appeared to have Naylor struck out looking in the 4th, but home plate umpire Mark Ripperger missed the call. Instead of getting out of the inning without any runs scoring, it was just another piece of bad luck in an inning that went sideways for Chicago.

Why the Cubs Lost

A couple of calls and bounces went against them in this one and they couldn’t overcome it despite a valiant comeback attempt.

Stats That Matter

• Imanaga deserved a better fate in this one but the home run bit him: 5 IP, 7 R, 3 ER, 7 H, 3 K, and 1 BB.
• Happ got on base four times and threw out a runner at second base, so a pretty good birthday.
• PCA continues to put good swings on the baseball and is moving in the right direction.

Bottom Line

That was a tough loss against a very good team and the Cubs could have won it if they caught a couple breaks. The end of the game demonstrates just how valuable a dominant closer can be, so maybe the Cubs should try to get one of those next year.

On Deck

The second game of the series is Tuesday night at 5:40pm CT. Javier Assad takes on Matthew Boyd in a contest available on Marquee and 670 The Score.