Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (6/7/24): Reds 4, Cubs 3 – Another Late Rally Falls Short

The Cubs’ slump just continues to deepen with another one-run loss against the Reds at Great American Ball Park Saturday afternoon. More late-game scoring chances were wasted and the winning tally once again came via an unearned run. This was their MLB-leading 26th one-run game this season and they’re now 12-14 in those contests, with the latest loss keeping them in last place in the division.

Chicago grabbed an early lead on a 1st inning RBI double from Dansby Swanson against Andrew Abbott. As has become incredibly predictable recently, Cincinnati immediately tied the game when Jeimer Candelario hit a solo home run off of starter Ben Brown.

TJ Friedl victimized Brown for a second consecutive start, launching a go-ahead two-run homer to right in the 3rd. A throwing error by third baseman Patrick Wisdom led to an unearned run on an RBI groundout by Friedl against the returning Jordan Wicks that made it 4-1 in the 5th.

Yan Gomes finally showed a little bit of life at the plate with a run-scoring double against reliever Emilio Págan in the 6th inning. Pinch-hitter Pete Crow-Armstrong knocked in a third tally with a groundout in the 8th to cut the deficit to 4-3.

The Cubs got runners on the corners with one out in the 9th, but it was yet another tease rally as former Cub Justin Wilson got the last two outs to seal the Cincinnati victory. (Box score)

Key Moment

Ian Happ had a good chance to tie the game with a runner on third and one out in the 9th, he just needed a grounder or a moderately deep fly ball. Instead, he hit a weak pop-up barely 10 feet in the air that was caught by a sliding Tyler Stephenson behind home plate. Mike Tauchman followed with a grounder to first that ended the game.

Why the Cubs Lost

The offense failed to take advantage of several chances with runners in scoring position and another error proved costly.

Stats That Matter

• Brown only went four innings and the Cubs may be moving him back to the bullpen with the return of Wicks: 4 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 3 K, and 1 BB.
• Wicks pitched 3.1 innings of his own and his stuff looked good.
• Swanson had three hits, including two doubles, which is another positive development.
• David Bote had two singles and a double after going 0-for-8 to start his 2024 MLB season.

Bottom Line

The Cubs are settling into a pattern of doing just enough to lose close game after close game. The law of averages would lead you to believe some kind of regression to the mean is bound to happen at some point, but it doesn’t feel like it’s anywhere nearby. Things look bleak right now, though it always feels worse as a biased observer than it probably actually is. That is about all the silver lining I can offer on the current dark clouds over Wrigleyville.

On Deck

The North Siders hope to avoid a sweep Sunday afternoon at 12:40pm CT. Shōta Imanaga battles Frankie Montas in a matchup available on Marquee and 670 The Score.