27

Hey hey! The Cubs held on to beat the Brewers 6-4 on Sunday behind three RBIs from Patrick Wisdom, including his 27th home run of the season, a new record for a Cubs rookie. Kris Bryant held the previous record with 26.

This one wasn't pretty, with the Cubs committing three errors and the start-by-committee showcasing the good (Thompson, Morgan, Heuer, Rucker) and the bad (Sampson, Wick) that is the current North Side bullpen. Rucker entered the game with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth -- and mercifully picked up the save by getting Jace Peterson to fly out.

One more Cubs loss will mathematically eliminate them from the second NL Wild Card berth. At that point, the question becomes where the club is in its rebuilding / retooling process. If it's in one at all.

Will 2022 be comparable to 2011?  2012?  2013?

Fans would love to think it'll be more like 2014 or even 2015, but that the owners' focus on Wrigleyville real estate development (hotel / restaurant / casino / etc.) smacks of previous owners' focus on chewing gum or newspapers (a la 1946 or 1974). Time will tell.

There are a few bright spots on the current roster, but it sure feels like it'll be more like 1974 or 2011 than like 2015.

Go Cubs go!

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

28

Hey hey! The Cubs came back to beat the Phillies 6-3 on Tuesday night behind a nice start from Adrian Sampson (5 IP, 2 ER, 3 K) and homers from Patrick Wisdom and Alfonso Rivas. Rowan Wick struck out the side in the ninth to pick up his fourth save.

Wisdom's blast was his 26th of the season, tying Kris Bryant's record for most home runs as a Cubs rookie.

Wick's season ERA now sits at impressive 2.16 (0.96 WHIP) with 22 punchouts in just over 16 innings pitched.

The Cubs have been mathematically eliminated from the NL Central title race, so the CMN is now focused on an NL Wild Card berth.

The series continues Wednesday in Philadelphia.

Go Cubs go!

Photo Credit:  Chicago Cubs

43

Holy cow! Jason Heyward's walk-off three-run homer in the bottom of the 10th gave the Cubs a 4-1 win over the Reds on Wednesday night at Wrigley. It was a pitchers' duel until that point, with both teams combining for only two runs, nine hits, and three walks prior to J-Hey's blast.

Alec Mills tossed a quality start for the North Siders (6 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 3 K) before Rowan Wick and Codi Heuer combined for four scoreless innings of relief. On the offensive side, Ian Happ continued his hot streak with a 1st inning solo homer.

While the Cubs have won 11 of their last 14 games, one more Cubs loss or one more Brewers win will officially eliminate the Cubs from the 2021 NL Central title race. They've already been eliminated from the first NL Wild Card berth (even by winning out, they couldn't overtake LA or SF). If the NL Central is out of reach, we'll refocus the CMN on the second NL Wild Card berth.

The homestand continues Friday, as Kris Bryant and the Giants return to the Friendly Confines for a weekend set.

Go Cubs go!

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

44

Hey hey! The Cubs won their SEVENTH in a row on Monday, beating Cincy 4-3 on Schwindel's game-winning RBI and a three-run homer from Happ. The North Siders' bullpen threw four scoreless innings to keep the game within reach.

Schwindel went 2-for-4 to raise his season average to .343 and his season OPS to 1.036. With the Cubs, those marks are .374 and 1.120, respectively.

The Cubs, who have now won 10 of their last 13 games, host the Reds again Tuesday at Wrigley.

Go Cubs go!

Photo Credit:  Chicago Cubs

46

Holy cow! The Cubs came back to beat the Pirates 11-8 on Sunday behind TWO grand slams (Schwindel, Duffy) and a two-inning save from Wick. That completed a four-game sweep of the Bucs -- and the North Siders are on a six-game winning streak with 9 wins in their last 12 games.

Schwindel reached base in 4 of 5 plate appearances (3 H, 1 BB), raising his season average to .338 (1.037 OPS) while Happ & Duffy each had 3-for-5 days. J-Hey went 2-for-5 in the slugfest.

Rowan Wick tossed two scoreless innings to pick up the save.

The Reds come to Wrigley tomorrow.

Go Cubs go!

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

 

47

Holy cow! The Cubs came back to beat the Bucs 7-6 on Saturday at Wrigley on a walk-off infield single by Frank Schwindel for their fifth straight win. Six different Cubs drove in runs and the bullpen picked up Kyle Hendricks and Trevor Megill with four innings of scoreless relief.

Frank the Tank had another three-hit game, raising his season average to .326 (.998 OPS). Rafael Ortega also had a three-hit game, raising his average to .299 (.839 OPS).

After the Cubs coughed up five runs in the 5th, things were looking bleak for the North Siders. But Schwindel homered in the bottom of the 5th (his 10th of the season) and the men in blue plated three in the bottom of the ninth to nail down the comeback win.

The series wraps up tomorrow in the Friendly Confines.

Go Cubs go!

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

48

Holy cow! The Cubs won their fourth straight game on Friday, beating the Bucs 6-5 behind three-hit days from Hermosillo, Schwindel, and Happ. Rowan Wick struck out the side in the ninth to notch the save.

Schwindel, the NL Rookie of the Month, homered, drove in two, and raised his season average to .315 (.967 OPS).

The series continues Saturday at Wrigley.

Go Cubs go!

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

50

Hey hey! The Cubs came back to beat the Bucs 6-5 in extras on Thursday night behind a run-scoring, walk-off Pittsburg error. Ian Happ and Rafael Ortega both went deep for the Cubs, and Adrian Sampson threw 3.1 innings of nice relief (0 H, 0 ER, 4 K). The winning run scored on a fluke play as Wilmer Difo misplayed Happ's pop fly.

Sergio Alcantara reached in four of five plate appearances, going 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

The series continues Friday in Pittsburgh.

Go Cubs go!

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs