Just when you think this club is ready to step on the gas, they let up. After six straight wins, the Cubs have managed to lose three in a row, scoring only four runs in the process. Tuesday was no different. The team got rolling early, scoring three runs in the first three innings, then stalled against what amounted to a AAA relief pitcher and an assortment of bullpen arms. The only thing they had on common was they were left-handed, as was Atlanta's starter on Sunday. All one can say about that right-handed hitting lineup the Cubs have fielded lately is they stink. I mean, it is one thing to rely on a heavily right-handed lineup when it includes Contreras and Russell as well as the regulars, another when it does not.
Another observation about this game - and it was a shame to waste a masterful performance by Hendricks - is that Maddon was simply out-managed. Hurtle must have realized the Cubs had fielded a weak collection of hitters even though they were predominantly right-handed, as he stuck to lefties from his bullpen throughout. The Cubs had no answer from their bench, as it was almost exclusively left-handed. Maddon replaced Hendricks with Edwards in the seventh. Edwards got the strikeout to strand the Pirates baserunner, but he was obviously wild. In the eighth he just blew the game. To my mind, Edwards has been very, very good and very, very awful lately by turns. You can always tell when the latter is the case because he is wild.
The Cubs are still 3 1/2 up on the Brewers, but they still cannot afford to blow games like that without paying the price. especially as Arrieta is likely to miss at least one start and Russell is a couple of weeks away from a return.
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