For one of the few times this season, Wednesday did not go the Cubs way. The Cubs lost both ends of a day-night doubleheader to the Padres. The Cubs allowed a bunch of players that have a history of playing their best ball against the organization and at Wrigley Field beat them.
The Cubs dropped consecutive games for the first time this season.
Even with the struggles against the Padres, the Cubs are 8-2 in the last 10 games and 5-2 on the current homestand with a big weekend series on the horizon against the Pirates.
Joe Maddon said it and he’s right. The players and really everyone that covers and watches the team could use a day off to recharge the batteries … and to put the start to the season in the proper prospective.
The Cubs are 17 games over .500 with a record of 25-8 after 33 games, by far the best winning percentage (.758) in all of baseball.
Addison Russell
Addison Russell played in the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader. Russell received a game off in the nightcap after going 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, two runs scored and a RBI in game one. Russell has hit safely in each of his last six games. And Russell has a four-game multi-hit streak.
Over his last nine games, Russell is hitting .361/.465/.528 with four doubles and a triple for a .993 OPS.
For the season, Russell is up to a .264/.383/.406 slash line with five doubles, two triples and two home runs for a .788 OPS. Russell is one of four Cubs (Anthony Rizzo, Ben Zobrist, Kris Bryant) with at least 20 runs batted in. Russell has 22 RBI in 29 games to go along with 19 walks and 26 strikeouts.
Russell is excelling with men on base. Russell is batting .136/.296/.227 in 44 at-bats, 54 plate appearances, with the bases empty. With runners on base, Russell is hitting .345/.435/.517 with three doubles, two triples and a home run for a .952 OPS in 58 at-bats, 66 plate appearances. And with runners in scoring position and two outs, Russell is 5-for-14 with a double and a triple (.357/.438/.571/1.009).
Addison Russell is quickly joining Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant as the players you want to see step to the plate with men on and the game on the line for the Cubs.
Miguel Montero
The Cubs are expected to activate Miguel Montero this weekend. Reports suggested Montero will either come off the DL before Friday’s opener with the Pirates or in time for Saturday’s game to catch Jake Arrieta.
Montero played Wednesday in his second straight game for Iowa. Montero was the DH and batted fourth behind Willson Contreras. Montero went 2-for-4 with two RBI in the I-Cubs 4-2 victory over the Sounds.
According to the Des Moines Register, the plan for Montero is to catch the entire game Thursday. Montero is not sure if he will stay with the I-Cubs for Friday or not.
Game One Post-Game Reports and Recap
- CCO – Cubs Bullpen Slips, Snaps Eight-Game Winning Streak
- Comcast SportsNet – Cubs bullpen melts down as eight-game winning streak comes to an end
- ESPN Chicago – Cubs winning streak ends after errors, bullpen struggles
- The Sun-Times – Padres snap Cubs eight-game winning streak with 7-4 win in opener of doubleheader
- Bruce Levine – Losing Unusual for Cubs
- The Tribune – Cubs Count the shortcomings as eight-game win streak ends
Game Two Post-Game Reports and Recap
- CCO – Cubs Blanked and Swept, Drop Both Games of Twin Bill to Padres
- Comcast SportsNet – Cubs fall to Padres, lose consecutive games for first time
- Comcast SportsNet – John Lackey to Christian Bethancourt: ‘You better f-ing run!’
- ESPN Chicago – Cubs drop Game Two to Padres as Addison Russell sits in big moment
- The Sun-Times – Doubleheader sweep by Padres hands Cubs first losing ‘streak’
Cubs-Pirates Probable Pitchers
The Cubs open a three-game series Friday afternoon (1:20pm CDT) at Wrigley against the Pirates. Joe Maddon has his three best starting pitchers lined up for the weekend matchup with the Bucs.
- Friday, May 13 (1:20pm CDT) – Jason Hammel vs. Francisco Liriano
- Saturday, May 14 (1:20pm CDT) – Jake Arrieta vs. Jeff Locke
- Sunday, May 15 (1:20pm CDT) – Jon Lester vs. Gerrit Cole
News and Notes
• Slumping Cub Jason Heyward maintains his confidence according to a report from Chris Emma. Heyward is not producing the numbers and he’s starting to hear it from the fans and media. Joe Maddon and the Cubs remain confident Heyward, a typical slow-starter, will get going offensively.
• According to the Sun-Times, big bucks can’t seem to buy slow-starting Jason Heyward a hit. ESPN Chicago supplied video of Heyward’s talk with the beat writers.
• Bruce Levine reported the Cubs could set NL record for runs scored.
• According to Patrick Mooney, the Cubs can’t win ‘em all, but the front office can get Joe Maddon more pitching.
• The Marlins designated LHP Craig Breslow for assignment. Breslow signed with the Marlins in the off-season and struggled out of Don Mattingly’s bullpen. Breslow was 0-2 in 15 appearances with a 4.50 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 3.88 FIP (nine runs, seven earned, 21 hits, four walks, seven strikeouts, 14 innings). The Cubs showed a lot of interest in Breslow the last two winters. Breslow signed with the Red Sox (2015) and Marlins (2016) instead. Keep an eye on Breslow, who turns 36 in August.
This Day in Cubstory
2013 – Anthony Rizzo agreed to terms on a seven-year, $41 million contract extension with the Cubs that included two options that could max out the contract at $68 million over nine seasons.
2012 – Cubs signed free agent Brian Esposito
2004 – Alex Cora fouled off 14 straight pitches from Matt Clement before hitting the 18th pitch of the at bat over the right field wall for a two-run homer and gave the Dodgers a 4-0 lead.
2003 – Cubs released Will Cunnane
2000 – The Cubs and Brewers played the longest nine-inning game in National League history, 4 hours and 22 minutes, at Wrigley Field. The Cubs lost 14-8 in a game that featured one of the longest homers in Wrigley Field history. Glenallen Hill launched a homer on top of the apartment building on Waveland across the street from Wrigley Field. It was estimated at 490 feet during the game and actually measured at 500 feet.
2000 – Cubs traded Mark Guthrie to the Devil Rays for Dave Martinez
1998 – Mark Grace became the first player to hit a ball into the swimming pool behind the right center field wall in what is now known as Chase Field. Grace did not hit a ball in the pool during his time with the Diamondbacks.
1985 – Cubs purchased Dave Hostetler from the Expos
1984 – Chris Robinson, born
1983 – Blake Lalli, born
1970 – Ernie Banks hit career home run No. 500. Banks lined a home run into the left field bleachers off Braves’ pitcher Pat Jarvis. The milestone homer was also the 1600th RBI of Banks’ career. Umpire Frank Secory, who saw Banks hit the first homer of his career, was at Wrigley for No. 500. Cubs won the game 4-3 in 11 innings on a Ron Santo infield single.
1968 – Mark Clark, born
1959 – Cubs released Bobby Adams
1959 – Cubs traded Taylor Phillips to the Phillies for Seth Moreland
1959 – Earl Averill hit a pinch-hit Grand Slam off Lew Burdette in the bottom of the ninth to give the Cubs a 7-3 victory over the Braves at Wrigley Field. Moose Moryn tied the game earlier in the ninth inning with a home run.
1955 – Sam Jones became the first African American pitcher to throw a no-hitter in Major League history. Jones walked the bases loaded in the ninth inning before striking out Dick Groat, Roberto Clemente and Frank Thomas to preserve the no-no in a 4-0 victory over the Pirates. Jones’ no hitter is the first at Wrigley Field in 38 years and only 2,918 fans were on hand to see history.
1938 – Norm Gigon, born
1916 – Hank Borowy, born
1889 – Alex McCarthy, born
1887 – Casey Hageman, born
1868 – Harry Truby, born