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PITTSBURGH — Ian Happ’s pregame analysis of the Chicago Cubs’ offensive struggles proved prophetic.
Not much had been going right for the Cubs entering Wednesday, riding a 10-game losing streak and losers in 14 of their last 16 games. With Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes looming in Thursday’s series finale at PNC Park, this represented an ideal matchup to end the skid against at-times-wild right-hander Bubba Chandler.
“Generally, the expected numbers or xwOBA (expected weighted on-base average) will tell you the story of contact,” Happ told the Tribune, “and if you’re doing things right and if we continue to get guys on base, at some point we’re going to score a bunch of runs.”
The Cubs put 23 runners on base, including 14 hits, en route to a 10-4 victory that ended the 10-game losing streak. Nine Cubs tallied at least one hit while five drove in at least one run.
“Whatever you want to call it, monkey off your back, whatever, it’s nice it’s gone,” manager Craig Counsell said. “And it starts over tomorrow and you’ve got to win a game tomorrow. But we needed it. The room needed it. We all needed it.”
No one had a bigger night than Happ.
On a long list of slumping Cubs, Happ’s struggles have been among the most pronounced. His rough stretch extended to before the losing streak. In his previous 16 games, he posted a .125 average, .269 on-base percentage, four RBIs and a 50% strikeout rate.
But twice Happ delivered the big hit to take pressure off the group on a five-RBI night. Stepping to the plate with the bases loaded in the first inning, he recovered from falling behind 0-2 against Chandler to hit a two-run single into the right-center gap for an early lead.
He again produced in a tie game in the seventh. The Cubs created a prime scoring opportunity with Michael Busch (hit by pitch) and Alex Bregman (double) on second and third to open the inning. Happ turned on reliever Yohan Ramírez’s first-pitch sweeper for a no-doubt three-run homer to right.
Happ’s 11th home run of the year sparked a six-run seventh in which the Cubs sent 11 batters to the plate. Seiya Suzuki singled after the long ball, and Michael Conforto, pinch hitting against right-hander Justin Lawrence, jumped the first pitch he saw for a two-run homer to right-center. Busch reached base for a second time on an RBI single for the final run.
The Cubs (30-26) recorded double-digit hits for the first time since May 15, which coincided with their last win, a 10-5 victory over the White Sox.
“It’s like it never happened,” a grinning Happ said of the losing streak.
Happ also put the Cubs’ situation in perspective.
“Whatever has happened before this point, it doesn’t matter,” he said. “It’s completely and totally irrelevant, like it doesn’t matter that we had two 10-game win streaks and it doesn’t matter that we had a 10-game losing streak. It doesn’t matter at all.
“The only thing that matters is tomorrow, and so it’s behind us now. Let’s move forward. We’re four games above .500. We’re in a good spot. Let’s keep moving.”
The Cubs twice needed to recover after the Pirates erased their lead. Right-hander Jameson Taillon largely pitched well in his five-inning start. However, home runs again hurt Taillon. He surrendered a three-run, game-tying homer to Brandon Lowe in the third, and two batters after the Cubs reclaimed the lead in the fourth, Konnor Griffin tied it with a solo homer.
Both home-run balls came on first-pitch four-seam fastballs. Taillon’s 19 home runs allowed leads the majors, four more than the next-closest pitcher.
“It’s been a little bit of everything,” he said. “I know the heater’s given up a lot of them. It’s just a funny thing, if you get ahead on a first-pitch heater or he gets out, you’re saying good job throwing a first-pitch strike.
“I’ve had a hard time throwing first-pitch strikes this year compared to what I normally do, so I don’t want to stop challenging early. But at the same time it’s just being aware Brandon Lowe hits fastballs really well, so if we’re throwing a first-pitch fastball, it’s on me to be careful in that situation.”
Skenes presents a tough challenge Thursday, but the Cubs are about to enter what should be a softer part of the schedule. They head to St. Louis for three games — the first meeting of the season against the rival Cardinals — then head back to Wrigley Field to face the below-.500 Athletics, followed by 12 straight games against the San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies, the two worst teams in the National League.
“It’s still pretty fresh that we just lost 10 in a row, so it definitely feels good to remember what it’s like,” Taillon said. “But we can’t be too excited.”
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Not much had been going right for the Cubs entering Wednesday, riding a 10-game losing streak and losers in 14 of their last 16 games. With Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes looming in Thursday’s series finale at PNC Park, this represented an ideal matchup to end the skid against at-times-wild right-hander Bubba Chandler.
“Generally, the expected numbers or xwOBA (expected weighted on-base average) will tell you the story of contact,” Happ told the Tribune, “and if you’re doing things right and if we continue to get guys on base, at some point we’re going to score a bunch of runs.”
The Cubs put 23 runners on base, including 14 hits, en route to a 10-4 victory that ended the 10-game losing streak. Nine Cubs tallied at least one hit while five drove in at least one run.
“Whatever you want to call it, monkey off your back, whatever, it’s nice it’s gone,” manager Craig Counsell said. “And it starts over tomorrow and you’ve got to win a game tomorrow. But we needed it. The room needed it. We all needed it.”
No one had a bigger night than Happ.
On a long list of slumping Cubs, Happ’s struggles have been among the most pronounced. His rough stretch extended to before the losing streak. In his previous 16 games, he posted a .125 average, .269 on-base percentage, four RBIs and a 50% strikeout rate.
But twice Happ delivered the big hit to take pressure off the group on a five-RBI night. Stepping to the plate with the bases loaded in the first inning, he recovered from falling behind 0-2 against Chandler to hit a two-run single into the right-center gap for an early lead.
He again produced in a tie game in the seventh. The Cubs created a prime scoring opportunity with Michael Busch (hit by pitch) and Alex Bregman (double) on second and third to open the inning. Happ turned on reliever Yohan Ramírez’s first-pitch sweeper for a no-doubt three-run homer to right.
Happ’s 11th home run of the year sparked a six-run seventh in which the Cubs sent 11 batters to the plate. Seiya Suzuki singled after the long ball, and Michael Conforto, pinch hitting against right-hander Justin Lawrence, jumped the first pitch he saw for a two-run homer to right-center. Busch reached base for a second time on an RBI single for the final run.
The Cubs (30-26) recorded double-digit hits for the first time since May 15, which coincided with their last win, a 10-5 victory over the White Sox.
“It’s like it never happened,” a grinning Happ said of the losing streak.
Happ also put the Cubs’ situation in perspective.
“Whatever has happened before this point, it doesn’t matter,” he said. “It’s completely and totally irrelevant, like it doesn’t matter that we had two 10-game win streaks and it doesn’t matter that we had a 10-game losing streak. It doesn’t matter at all.
“The only thing that matters is tomorrow, and so it’s behind us now. Let’s move forward. We’re four games above .500. We’re in a good spot. Let’s keep moving.”
The Cubs twice needed to recover after the Pirates erased their lead. Right-hander Jameson Taillon largely pitched well in his five-inning start. However, home runs again hurt Taillon. He surrendered a three-run, game-tying homer to Brandon Lowe in the third, and two batters after the Cubs reclaimed the lead in the fourth, Konnor Griffin tied it with a solo homer.
Both home-run balls came on first-pitch four-seam fastballs. Taillon’s 19 home runs allowed leads the majors, four more than the next-closest pitcher.
“It’s been a little bit of everything,” he said. “I know the heater’s given up a lot of them. It’s just a funny thing, if you get ahead on a first-pitch heater or he gets out, you’re saying good job throwing a first-pitch strike.
“I’ve had a hard time throwing first-pitch strikes this year compared to what I normally do, so I don’t want to stop challenging early. But at the same time it’s just being aware Brandon Lowe hits fastballs really well, so if we’re throwing a first-pitch fastball, it’s on me to be careful in that situation.”
Skenes presents a tough challenge Thursday, but the Cubs are about to enter what should be a softer part of the schedule. They head to St. Louis for three games — the first meeting of the season against the rival Cardinals — then head back to Wrigley Field to face the below-.500 Athletics, followed by 12 straight games against the San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies, the two worst teams in the National League.
“It’s still pretty fresh that we just lost 10 in a row, so it definitely feels good to remember what it’s like,” Taillon said. “But we can’t be too excited.”
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