Recap Game 4: Cubs Drop Opener In Atlanta
Four games into the 2019 MLB season and the Cubs have lost 3 straight. This past weekend we saw the Cubs pitching falter and give up too many runs to get the W. Today, it was the defenses turn to implode. 6 errors on the night and not a single Cub crossing home plate made it a pretty hard game to watch.
Maybe it had something to do with scoring 16 runs in two losses, (probably not, but maybe) but for whatever reason, Cubs bats were flat against the Braves. Bryant hit a double in the first but a pop up by Rizzo and a flyout from Baez ended that threat.
The Braves, however, had no problem scoring and were helped out plenty by the aforementioned 6 Cubs errors, the first of which coming almost immediately in the bottom of the first. One of Hendricks first pitches to leadoff hitter Ender Inciarte was a pop up in the left field foul ball territory. Both Zagunis and Baez went racing but Zagunis called off Baez. Zagunis then overran the ball which then fell harmlessly enough in foul territory. He very definitely should have made that play and it was rightfully called an error. What came next is what usually happens when a hitter gets a second chance. A leadoff home run by Inciarte put the Braves up 1-0. That play seemed to define how the rest of the game would go. Newcomer to the Braves, Josh Donaldson came up to bat next and reached safely when he lined a single to left. Freeman lined out to center field, but Acuna drew a walk. Markakis came up to bat next. Off the bat, his hit looked to be a standard double play. Acuna was out at second but the throw back to first from Javy was off by a wide margin and Markakis was safe. The worst part of all that, though, was that Donaldson, who advanced to third on the initial play, was able to cross home on the errant throw, putting the Braves up 2-0 with 2 outs in the first. Albies was up to bat next and a THIRD error in the inning allowed him to reach second base safely. Catcher Brian McCann came up to bat next and smoked a single to center that allowed 2 more runs to score. Shortstop Dansby Swanson grounded out to finally end the inning but the Braves were up 4-0 and though it would be more than enough, the Braves weren’t done yet.
The second inning wasnt clean for either pitcher as both issued walks but neither of those walks would have an impact on the game.
The Cubs almost managed to make something happen in the third when Bryant was walked and Baez smoked a single before Contreras was walked to load the bases for Bote. Unfortunately, Bote didnt have another grand slam in him today and instead ended the rally with a groundout to first base.
That almost rally must have gotten the Braves a little nervous because Acuna came out in the bottom of the third a launched a no doubter. His home run put the Braves up 5-0. Markakis followed that up with a single to center but was tagged out at second when he got greedy trying to stretch his single into a double. Almora made a perfect throw to Baez, who then laid down a great tag in one of the few bright spots of the Cubs night. That defensive gem was immediately followed up with two errors, on the same play, and both by Rizzo, that allowed McCann to reach second. Fortunately, Hendricks was able to strike out Swanson to end the threat.
The Cubs were able to get to the Braves bullpen in the 5th when a single by Rizzo chased Braves starter Sean Newcomb out of the game. His final line on the night was 6 hits, 0 runs/earned runs, with 4 walks and 3 strikeouts in 4 innings of work. Because he didn’t go a full 5 innings, he did not qualify for the win.
Cubs starter, Kyle Hendricks, didnt last much longer. In the bottom of the fifth, a single, a double, and an intentional walk loaded the bases for Swanson, who hadnt been able to do much at all against Hendricks. Unfortunately, the error monster chose then to rear its ugly head. Two more runs crossed the plate, Swanson reached first safely, and Hendricks night was over. His final line was not very pretty. Over 4.1 innings, Hendricks allowed 10 hits, 7 runs, only 2 of which were earned, walked 3, 1 of which was intentional, struck out 4 and gave up 2 home runs. Kintzler came in for Hendricks and was able to end the inning.
With Rosario pitching in the eighth, the Braves put another run on the board, bringing the score to 8-0 Braves.
The Cubs had a total of 9 hits on the night but they weren’t able to get enough consecutive hits to put any runs up. The benches cleared after the top of the eighth when Swanson took exception with a slide by Bote. The slide was perfectly clean, though, and the teams went back to their dugouts without an altercation.
All in all, it was a pretty ugly game for the Cubs. Theo and Jed emphasized the importance of getting off to a hot start and you have to wonder if some of these players thought he was talking about the weather in Texas and Atlanta. It’s a long season and theres 158 games left to play but if the Cubs hope to challenge Milwaukee for the division, they’re all going to have to start playing a whole lot better.
