The Chicago Cubs endured a challenging game against the Colorado Rockies, facing a 3-2 defeat in the bottom of the ninth inning on Wednesday. The disappointment was visible as the Rockies celebrated around pinch hitter Sterlin Thompson near first base. Cubs players slowly left the field, burdened by their current plight.
This loss brought the Cubs to a .500 record for the first time in almost two months. Their earlier success saw them achieve a 10-game winning streak beginning April 15, but they now find themselves surrounded by challenges. They have lost ten consecutive series, and the bottom-ranked team in baseball is on the brink of sweeping them.
Edward Cabrera, Thursday’s starter, lingered on the bench, visibly affected by the Rockies’ enthusiasm. The Cubs, struggling to score, rely on minimal advantages, making scoring runs consistently difficult.
Shota Imanaga pitched five scoreless innings, holding the Rockies at bay, yet the Cubs’ offense faltered against Michael Lorenzen. Despite Lorenzen’s struggles, with an 8.01 ERA and leading the league in hits allowed, he limited the Cubs to one run on two hits over five innings.
“We didn’t produce enough opportunities tonight,” manager Craig Counsell stated. “We had five hits, very few at bats with runners in scoring position, very few rallies, so it’s a night offensively where we didn’t do enough.”
Imanaga, making his debut at Coors Field, joined a select group of Japanese-born pitchers who achieved at least five shutout innings in Denver, including Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Kenta Maeda, and Hideo Nomo. Imanaga conceded only two hits and two walks while striking out seven.
“I kept us in the game, but the last four starts I couldn’t help the team win,” Imanaga remarked through interpreter Edwin Stanberry. “Moving forward just using today and thinking about it every time I’m out there and helping the team win.”
The Cubs’ bullpen faced pressure following Imanaga’s departure to hold onto the one-run lead. Phil Maton and Caleb Thielbar delivered two scoreless innings. Jacob Webb, a reliable reliever, entered the eighth inning. A two-run homer by TJ Rumfield swung the game in favor of the Rockies.
“Every night’s different, and Webb, he’s going to have one-run leads of a different nature, so I think he’d tell you he’s got a job to do, but he’s going to give up runs from time to time,” Counsell commented. “He’s been on an excellent run, and we didn’t give our pitching staff enough room tonight and in the end that gets you here.”
Ian Happ leveled the score in the ninth inning with his 15th home run, offering the Cubs a glimmer of hope. Yet, the Rockies quickly seized the momentum, with Thompson’s walk-off single off reliever Daniel Palencia.
Discussion about bullpen efforts often overshadows the Cubs’ pressing concern: their offensive struggles. Despite creating chances, the Cubs find it tough to score. Ian Happ acknowledged the frustration of not capitalizing on opportunities.
“The frustrating part for us, or the confusing part, is that we’re still getting guys on base and not finding a way to get guys in,” Happ explained. “And so you know we don’t want to leave guys on base, but the fact that we’re getting guys on and giving ourselves opportunities, just we’re going to cash out at some point, and we got to keep believing that.”
The journey suggests the need to overcome personal obstacles and trust the process.