Oh yeah, the Cubs had a game Sunday. It did not go well.
To make things even worse, the Cubs have a couple injury concerns as well after their 4-0 loss to the Brewers that was punctuated by Christian Yelich’s three-run homer in the ninth off Craig Kimbrel.
Javy Baez, who led off, was replaced to begin the seventh inning. In the third, Baez dove headfirst on a stolen base and needed treatment on the field but remained in the game. He appeared to be shaking his left hand, and also hit his head on the Brewers infielder on the play.
The Cubs did not announce why Baez left the game.
Earlier in the day, Yu Darvish (forearm tightness) was a surprise scratch, forcing emergency starter Tyler Chatwood and the bullpen to stop Milwaukee. Chatwood allowed one run in 3 2⁄3 innings.
Obviously, any longer absences of Baez and/or Darvish could blunt some of the positive feelings from Ben Zobrist’s return. And the standings and calendar are also becoming an issue.
The Cubs are trying to chase down the Cardinals to win the NL Central with the number of games dwindling. St. Louis, which has the second half of a doubleheader to go Sunday, beat the Reds in Game 1. Combined with the Cubs’ loss, the Cardinals took a 3 1/2-game lead.
For the second straight day, the Cubs offense did not respond.
One day after getting blanked in a 2-0 loss, the Cubs bats were stifled again. In the sixth, the Cubs had runners on first and second and none out. Pinch-hitter Jason Heyward bunted and Victor Caratini was forced out at third. Addison Russell then grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Kimbrel entered in the ninth to keep the Cubs’ deficit at 1-0 but that did not happen. With two on and two out, Kimbrel hung a knuckle curve to reigning NL MVP Yelich, who deposited it into the center-field backdrop to give Milwaukee a 4-0 lead.
Zobrist did not play Sunday but ended the game in the on-deck circle when Tony Kemp flew out.
