Mike Tauchman celebrates after getting a base hit (Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
The Chicago Cubs finally got going in the ninth inning of the third game against the Milwaukee Brewers. In the current four-game series the Cubs have so far managed to sneak away with the middle two wins.
It helps to ease the pain
This was a much-needed relief from the recent accumulation of losses. They’d been on an achy three-game losing streak before that first win against the Brewers. Perhaps it wouldn’t have been so painful if it weren’t preceded by a slightly more menacing four-game losing streak with a single anomaly, or some might call it a win, to split them up.
When the pain comes, it comes in droves as Cubs’ fans know all too well. Because what had started the whole thing was a stubbing of their metaphorical toe on the last place rival Cardinals in the second and final game of the London Series.
Prior to that series they had finally started to make a move in the division. Streaks are what David Ross brings to the table. It’s just a heaping helping of streakiness at every turn. Whether winning or losing, hitting or whiffing, streaks are the predominant takeaway in the Ross era.
He partook in a profanity-hurling shouting match brought on by some terrible calls and baserunner interference in an ugly, extra inning game dubbed “Roofgate” by the media and was ejected. Then the Cubs finally snapped out of their losing streak. It may be a strategy worth exploring for future games – for him to get himself out of there so they can win.
Ross has managed the Cubs for four years. He started with the high salaried remnants of his former World Series winning team. Then Tom Ricketts sold everybody and rebuilt. Now they have a lot more potential than people may realize. Though it’s a young team a good portion of Cubs’ fans still think Ross is holding them back.
It took all of two pitches before the Brewers got their first hit against Justin Steele. He was selected as an All-Star pitcher for the Cubs, and rightfully so. Steele holds the best ERA in baseball. He didn’t let an early run phase him and fended off the Brewers through sixth innings. He left after giving up three runs in total and got the quality start.
Notables:
- Seiya Suzuki broke out of his 21 hitless at bat streak in their win against the Brewers in the second game of the series. He’s starting to pick things up with his second multi-hit game in a row.
- Christian Yelich came into the night 12 of 24 against the Cubs. He racked up two more hits.
- Mike Tauchman hit four foul balls in a row before he pushed a blooper into left field that gave the Cubs a two-run lead. One of the away broadcast announcers even said, “That might be the at bat of the year right there.”
- Adbert Alzolay was throwing thunderbolts and slammed the door shut on the Brewers, picking up his fifth save of the season. Additionally, Alzolay has seven holds on the year.
The Cubs are currently in third place in the division but recently aren’t making much headway toward the top. They’re 3-7 in their last 10 games having won their last two. By comparison, the first place Cincinatti Reds are 7-3 in their last 10, having won their last four.
After they wrap up the series against the Brewers, the Cubs will head to Brooklyn next in a three-game series against the New York Yankees.
