Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (6/15/22): Padres 19, Cubs 5 – Embarrassing Cubs Lose Ninth Consecutive Game

The Cubs tailspin continued Wednesday night in the Wrigley Field heat as the pitching disintegrated again. After getting an early lead and they lost their ninth consecutive game. Chicago fans are straight up not having a good time right now.

Young prospect Caleb Kilian struggled immediately in his second career start, battling control issues and falling behind 2-0 after the 1st. The Cubs got to San Diego starter Ryan Weathers for four runs in the bottom of the 2nd. Two bases loaded walks and a two-run single by Christopher Morel did the damage.

Kilian ran into two-out trouble in the 4th inning surrendering three with the big blow coming on a two-run double by Jake Cronenworth. Daniel Norris took over for the Cubs the next inning and got absolutely destroyed. The left-handed reliever allowed four runs and four hits without recording an out.

Things went pretty rapidly downhill after that for Chicago as the Padres would add 10 more runs over the next few innings. The Cubs eventually mercifully went down to a 19-5 defeat. (Box score)

Why the Cubs Lost

The bullpen has given up a truly staggering 25 runs the last two games. It’s starting to be a concern whether or not they can even roster enough pitchers to finish games.

Key Moment

Kilian hit Ha-Seong Kim with a pitch with two outs and nobody on in the 4th inning. The Padres rallied for three runs after but it’s probably unlikely if he did get out of it that it would’ve made much of a difference the way the rest of the staff is throwing right now.

Stats That Matter

• Kilian had major control issues and was not able to register a strike out, so he has some stuff to work on: 4 IP, 5 R, 5 H, 0 K, and 5 BB.
• Morel hit a home run in addition to his two-run single as he remains a bright spot.
• Ian Happ reached base four more times Wednesday.

Bottom Line

Frank Schwindel was on the mound for the third time in the last two weeks Wednesday. Whatever charm it once had is very much fading away. There’s no other way to say it, the Cubs are embarrassing right now. Even by the standards of tanking this is incredibly brazen. A team with the kind of resources that this one has should never be this abysmal.

On Deck

Chicago somehow tries to salvage the final game of the series Thursday at 1:20pm CT. Joe Musgrove takes on Matt Swarmer in a game airing on Marquee Sports Network and 670 The Score.