Friday brought a sense of cautious hope to Wrigley Field after the Chicago Cubs broke an eight-game home losing streak with a late-game rally, collecting six hits with runners in scoring position. This was notable since their previous 22 games saw them hitting just .168 in these situations, one of the poorest marks in the league.
Before the game against the San Francisco Giants, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer acknowledged the significance of the win but stressed it was only one game. He expressed a desire for the team to relax and play better. Unfortunately, the Giants quickly dashed those hopes, hitting seven home runs and scoring 16 runs before the Cubs responded, resulting in an 18-3 defeat.
Starting pitcher Edward Cabrera faced significant struggles, allowing three of the home runs and receiving boos from the 39,060 fans present. Cabrera emphasized his competitive nature and disdain for losing, stating that sometimes costly mistakes happen in games.
The Cubs had aimed for a turnaround after winning a single game, following a dire 5-17 stretch. This slump came after a 20-3 period in which they achieved two separate 10-game winning streaks. The schedule, featuring matchups against the Giants and Colorado Rockies, presented an opportunity, with their opponents being a combined 28 games under .500.
Despite this opportunity, the Cubs stumbled. Their starting pitchers have struggled severely, posting a 6.35 ERA since their last significant winning streak was halted in May. Cabrera’s return, expected to stabilize the rotation, fell short; he allowed several costly home runs.
“You can’t struggle forever, and we need to get back to playing well,” Hoyer said, emphasizing the need for the Cubs to focus on their performance rather than the schedule.
Additional pitching reinforcements were anticipated soon, with right-hander Tyler Ferguson being optioned to Triple-A Iowa to make room for Cabrera, and a return for starter Matthew Boyd in sight. However, these elements didn’t prevent Friday’s disappointing loss.
The Cubs’ offense only managed to score after the game was already out of reach, finishing with a lackluster performance with runners in scoring position. Hoyer acknowledged that improvements must come from the current roster at Wrigley Field. Although trade discussions are emerging, Hoyer stressed that immediate improvement on the field is the priority over potential trades.
Hoyer emphasized the importance of the team’s core players, particularly the position players, to step up and deliver better performances. He reiterated that while trade considerations will be focused on pitching, the team’s current focus should be on playing better to climb out of their current slump.