Cubs takeaways: What we learned in missed opportunity to sweep Padres
CHICAGO — The Cubs arrived at Wrigley Field on Sunday with the opportunity to sweep the San Diego Padres and pick up their sixth consecutive win.
They failed in their quest, as they blew a late lead and lost 8-7 on veteran first baseman Justin Turner’s missed-catch error.
Here are three takeaways from the game, as the Cubs (7-5) ended a five-game winning streak and the Padres (8-2) left town with a needed victory.
Normally reliable defense falters
It was a tall task to pick up 15 outs and protect a two-run lead, but starter Ben Brown’s four-inning outing meant the Cubs’ bullpen was dealt that hand.
It doesn’t help when defensive miscues happen, too.
With the score tied at 7 and the heart of his order coming up in the bottom of the ninth inning, Cubs manager Craig Counsell turned to closer Ryan Pressly to hold off the Padres. But Pressly allowed a leadoff walk, a fielder’s choice groundout and a single to the first three San Diego hitters.
Despite the early struggles, Pressly got Manny Machado to roll over a groundball to Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson for what appeared to be an inning-ending double play. Swanson flipped the ball to second baseman Nico Hoerner for one out, and he then fired it to Turner at first. The veteran mishandled the ball, though, allowing Fernando Tatis Jr. to score from third and give the Padres the lead.
Defense is supposed to be the Cubs’ calling card, but it let them down when they needed it the most. They’ve prided themselves on “converting outs into outs.” Their failure to do so Sunday spoiled their opportunity to extend their winning streak and pick up another sweep.
Much like they did eight days ago after a similar loss in Arizona, the Cubs must turn the page, starting with Monday’s three-game series opener against the Texas Rangers.
Wild, wild first
Things started out of control — literally — in the first inning.
Both starting pitchers struggled for command, leading to a 47-minute opening frame that produced eight runs. Luckily for the Cubs, it resulted in an early lead.
The Cubs saw 43 pitches, drew four walks and scored five runs to take a 5-3 lead. They chased Padres left-hander Kyle Hart from the game after just eight hitters and two outs. It’s a positive Cubs lineup trend that has developed early this season.
Only one starter — Diamondbacks right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (three runs in six innings on March 29) — has thrown a quality start against the Cubs this season. Opposing starters also have lasted fewer than six innings in 10 of the Cubs’ 12 games, and just three times have they thrown fewer than 75 pitches in those outings.
The Cubs’ lineup eats at an opposing starter’s pitch count and forces managers to dig into their bullpen early in games.
Of course, Counsell and the Cubs had that issue, too.
Brown wasn’t at his best to begin the game. He walked three batters in the top of the first, hit another and allowed two infield hits — one via a bunt — to stake the Padres to a 3-0 lead. He threw 35 pitches in the frame and lasted just four innings, allowing five runs and seven hits, forcing Counsell to turn to his relief corps for the final 15 outs.
Tucker’s first Wrigley homer
Kyle Tucker arrived in Chicago on Friday riding a four-game home run streak, and he was introduced to the Wrigley crowd to much fanfare in his first game with his new team.
He had a solid start to his home tenure – he drove in a run, scored another and drew three walks in the first two games of the series — but on Sunday, the crowd of 33,941 had a firsthand look at Tucker’s power.
The Cubs’ newest slugger clubbed his first homer at his new home — a two-run blast in the second inning — and finished 2-for-4 with three RBI, two runs and a walk.
Tucker is in his final year of team control, and questions surrounding his tenure in Chicago beyond 2025 remain. But Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Friday that Tucker would see what Wrigley Field “is all about over the next few months, which I think is really important.”
Sunday’s game might’ve been the first real taste for both sides.