Cubs fail to get series sweep over Blue Jays |
CHICAGO - When this week started, the Chicago Cubs (61-64) goal was to go 4-2 or possibly 5-1. Anything less than that would be considered a disappointment and would put another axe in the quest to make the postseason. However, after getting swept by the Cleveland Guardians, the only hope the Cubs had to go .500 for the week was to sweep the Toronto Blue Jays (58-66) at Wrigley Field.
After picking up a wins on both Friday and Saturday, the Cubs were well on their way to achieving that sweep and had arguably their best pitcher in Shota Imanaga taking the ball. Imanaga has been nothing short of amazing this season and you have to give Jed Hoyer some credit for how cheap he wa able to get him this season. One of the biggest reasons Imanaga has had tons of success this season is facing a new league for the first time. That was again the case against Toronto, so you had to like the Cubs' chances to complete this sweep. Imanaga did his job, allowing one run and striking out six across five innings, but the Cubs' offense went dormant, as the Blue Jays avoided the sweep with a 1-0 win. There haven't been too many cases where Imanaga has failed to pitch into the sixth inning, but the Blue Jays deserve a ton of credit as they fouled off plenty of pitches and made him work forever out possible. They then forced the Cubs pen to work just as hard, especially Ethan Roberts as he saw game action for the first time in what feels like a month. The only run Imanaga allowed came in the second inning when Joey Loperfido touched him up for his third homer of the season. “You had to hit a ball really good today to hit it out,” Counsell said. “Give him credit, he hit a ball really good.” Homers have been an issue for Imanaga at times this season, but for the most part, he has found ways to limit the long ball and has pitched about as good as anyone in baseball this season. That homer gave Blue Jays starter Bowden Francis an early lead, which he made hold up. The young righty has had an up-and-down season, but Sunday saw Francis deliver one of his better outings of the season as he gave the Blue Jays seven shutout innings, striking out seven and scattering three hits. Any time you can put forth starts like that, your chances of winning are greatly going to increase, which is all the Blue Jays could ask for right now. There are times when you can tell that Imanga just doesn't have his best stuff on the mound. After allowing a pair of baserunners in the first before surrendering that home, this was one of those days when he wasn't at his best. Take away those first two innings, and Imanaga was very good, but with the offense failing to put a runner on base through innings, things weren't looking good. Then came the fourth inning when the Cubs finally got to Bowden and set themselves up to potentially take the lead. With Michael Busch and Seiya Suzuki picking up a pair of one-out singles, the Cubs had the tying run at second before a fielder's choice by Nico Hoerner loaded the bases. Per usual, the Cubs failed to come through with a big hit as Dansby Swanson struck out to end the inning as the Cubs still trailed 1-0. That was the best scoring chance the Cubs had the entire game, as they didn't put another baserunner in scoring position until the seventh inning. Once again, it was Hoerner playing a massive role in that, as his one-out double had the Cubs in position to tie things up again with Swanson coming to bat. Looking to redeem himself after striking out in the fourth, Swanson continued to struggle with runners on base as he went down on strikes again to kill another Cubs rally. Following the work of Julian Merryweather and Roberts across the next three innings, it was up to Hector Neris to keep things close in the ninth, but once again Neris pitched into trouble as the Blue Jays connected for a pair of singles with hopes of adding on. Unlike his outing on Friday, Neris managed to keep the Blue Jays off the board as he closed out the ninth inning with a pop fly as the Cubs were down to their final at bats trailing 1-0. “Our bullpen did a heck of a job putting up some zeros,” Counsell said, “to keep giving the offense a chance.” Looking to close things out was Chad Green but with Cody Bellinger picking up a one-out single before stealing second it was the Cubs threatening as they were in a position to tie things up again. Unfortunately for the Cubs, Swanson was their last bit of hope at the plate as his grounder ended the game with the Cubs falling to the Jays 1-0. Chicago will now enjoy an off day on Monday before returning to the field Tuesday to start a three-game set with the Detroit Tigers. “This was an opportunity, for sure,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “We pitched well, but it takes all phases. To put together the streaks, you've got to deliver in all phases. And we just weren't able to deliver offensively today.” “This was an opportunity for sure … we just weren’t able to deliver offensively today.” Michael Busch does nothing but rake. pic.twitter.com/mspmbfKPTm
Craig Counsell on today’s loss. pic.twitter.com/QdUDQqor8N
