The Chicago Cubs are in a serious slump and the team as a whole is having issues to making things click on both sides of the ball. The offense can’t generate runs, the pitching has been sub-par and as a result, Chicago is currently on a losing streak that should start worrying their fans and the coaching staff.
This time, the Cubs failed to produce against the Cincinnati Reds and the visitors won by a 4-1 score at Wrigley Field.
Neither side did much on offense and as a result, the main story was Brandon Phillips’ early exit due to an injury. The deadlock was finally broken during the fifth inning when speedy outfielder Billy Hamilton doubled, scoring Devin Mesoraco to put Cincinnati up by one.
The Reds added two more runs in the sixth inning. Aided by a throwing error by Emilio Bonifacio – who has cooled off considerably since his torrid start to the season – Zack Cozart grounded out, but the sequence allowed both Jay Bruce and Ryan Ludwick to cross home plate, building a three-run lead for Cincinnati after six innings.
The Cubs woke up in the seventh but they only mustered one run. Veteran infielder Luis Valbuena singled to right field and drove in Starlin Castro, who previously singled and advanced to second on a force attempt by Ryan Sweeney.
Cincinnati mustered a fourth run in the eighth inning, but it was all due to Justin Grimm’s wildness over the mound. The former Texas Rangers’ prospect had runners on both first and third and a wild pitch scored Todd Frazier to make it 4-1 after eight. Chicago managed to put men on base in the final two innings, but their inability to produce runs doomed them in what turned out to be another sour loss for the Cubbies.
The season is quickly going south for Chicago and while today’s rivals aren’t an easy team – the Reds have been a perennial playoff contender during the past few years – the team needs to get it together sooner than later. Otherwise the slump will continue and the Cubs won’t be able to climb out of last place of their division any time soon.