Cubs Takeaways: What we learned in epic pitcher’s duel in Washington D.C.
Matthew Boyd and the Cubs toyed with history. They didn’t make it.
Instead, the Cubs saw a potentially unforgettable night turn into a loss in just four hitters. Boyd allowed a leadoff home run in the seventh that did the Cubs in, as they fell to the Nationals 2-0, dropping the second installment of a three-game series.
A red-hot offense was stymied by one of the game’s starters as the Cubs (38-23)lost to the Nationals (28-33).
Here are three takeaways from the game:
So close to history
Matthew Boyd has been such a revelation for the Cubs this season. He nearly had his ultimate moment as a Cub.
The left-hander carried a perfect game into the sixth inning — and in the span of four hitters went from history to a deficit. He lost it on a one-out walk and dropped the no-hitter a batter later on a single to Robert Hassell III. The shutout was gone two batters later, in the seventh inning, on Ahmed Rosario’s solo home run.
Boyd still delivered a strong outing with his new team and continues to be such a valuable member of this Cubs rotation.
When Justin Steele’s season was ended in April, the rotation was seemingly on thin ice. Shota Imanaga’s injury caused even more concern amongst Cubs fans.
The rotation hasn’t been perfect, but it has been serviceable enough. Since May 5 – the day after Imanaga’s last start – Cubs’ starters have a 4.91 ERA, 26th in baseball. The Cubs are still 17-8 in that time, tied for the fourth-best record in baseball, as Boyd and Jameson Taillon have been steadying to this group.
If Boyd and Taillon can continue that, and the Cubs can get Imanaga back later this month, it stands to reason that group can only improve.
Missed opportunity
Two runs are rarely going to be backbreaking against this Cubs offense.
But when a pitcher like MacKenzie Gore is on the mound, one run will feel like a whole lot more. So you must capitalize on key opportunities, and Cubs had one in the first inning.
The Cubs started the game with three straight singles and looked primed to put pressure on a left-hander who has been one of the game’s best this season. But there’s a reason why Gore entered Wednesday leading MLB in strikeouts. The 26-year-old struck out Pete Crow-Armstrong and Dansby Swanson and then induced a popout from Nico Hoerner – one of the best hitters with runners in scoring position.
The Nationals had clear sailing from there. Gore didn’t allow a hit over the next six innings and allowed just two base runners – a third inning walk, and a fourth inning hit by pitch. The Cubs had an opportunity to break the game open. Instead, they were left ruing what could have been.
Tucker’s status
Kyle Tucker was out of the lineup for the second straight day after jamming his right ring finger during Sunday’s series finale against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field.
[Kyle Tucker injury update: Latest on Cubs slugger, who’s still out of lineup]
Cubs manager Craig Counsell reiterated for the second day in a row that Tucker wasn’t going to need an injured list stint and was trending positively. He wasn’t lying.
With the tying run on base in the ninth inning and two outs, Counsell turned to Tucker to pinch hit with the game on the line. Tucker grounded out to end the game, but getting him into the game was an encouraging sign as they look to get their slugger back in the fold. The Cubs lineup thrived on Tuesday without him, but there’s no question – it’s a completely different lineup with Tucker manning the No. 2 spot in the lineup.
