CI Recap (6/19/18) – Cubs 3, Dodgers 4: Cubs Blow Ninth Inning Lead in Game One

The Cubs and Dodgers met Tuesday afternoon in a makeup game for Monday night’s rainout. Joc Pederson led off the game with a home run for the Dodgers off Cubs’ starter Tyler Chatwood. Chatwood had another wild outing, walking five while striking out six over five innings of work. He only allowed two hits and one earned run, but the lack of command continues to be concerning and also forced Joe Maddon into his bullpen in the sixth. That would prove costly, as Brandon Morrow (we learned during the game) is unavailable for both games today with back tightness that flared up on Monday.

Kris Bryant gave the Cubs an early lead with a ground-rule double scoring two in the second inning off Kenta Maeda. Rizzo added an insurance run in the fourth to make it 3-1. The score remained that way until the top of the sixth, when the Dodgers got one back when a Yasiel Puig fly ball fell between three Cubs players and allowed Chris Taylor to score.

The Cubs nearly added to their run total in the eighth, but a Kris Bryant fly ball just missed the basket in left, hitting off the wall for a double. Anthony Rizzo came up a few batters later with the bases loaded and smoked a line drive to right, but the wind kept it down and into Puig’s glove.

Justin Wilson came on to close things out for the Cubs in the ninth, with Morrow unavailable, and ultimately surrendered a two-strike, two-out double to pinch-hitter Kyle Farmer that would drive in the tying, and game-winning runs.

Why The Cubs Lost

The Cubs couldn’t push across some more insurance runs throughout the day, going just 2-12 with runners in scoring position and leaving 13 men on base. With Brandon Morrow unavailable today and Tyler Chatwood turning in another short outing, Joe Maddon had to cover four innings with a limited bullpen. Justin Wilson eventually came on for the save and couldn’t close the door on the Dodgers.

Key Moment

Pinch-hitter Kyle Farmer came on to face Justin Wilson with two men on and two outs in the ninth. He ripped a double past a diving Kris Bryant and down the left field line to bring in both runners to put the Dodgers on top for good.

Stats That Matter

• Kris Bryant was 2-5 with two RBI batting leadoff in this game.
• Pedro Strop tossed two scoreless innings in this one, lowering his season ERA to 1.76.
• Tyler Chatwood threw 101 pitches over five innings of work. He allowed two hits and one earned run while walking five and striking out six.

Bottom Line

This was a tough loss to swallow, but the Cubs will try to get rid of the bad taste in their mouth by playing again in a few hours.

On Deck

The Cubs and Dodger play game two of the double header at 7:05 CT. Mike Montgomery gets the ball for the Cubs, while the Dodgers turn to former-Cub Rich Hill, who is making his first start since May 19.