Back home Monday at Wrigley Field, the Cubs resembled neither the offensive juggernaut nor the strong defensive team they had been during an 8-1 road trip.
Holding the Pirates scoreless until the eighth inning, the Cubs, who had expanded their lead to 3-0 in the fifth on Ian Happ’s two-run triple, saw it quickly crumble as reliever Jorge Lopez (2-3) allowed a tying three-run homer to Bryan Reynolds. That was followed by a solo shot from Andrew McCutchen to left to give Pirates the lead on their way to an eventual 5-3 win.
“There’s a reason we gave him an extra day,” manager Craig Counsell said of taking starter Jameson Taillon out after seven scoreless innings in which he allowed three hits, struck out three and walked one. “We put Jorge Lopez in the game. He’s been wonderful. He’s pitched wonderfully. Obviously didn’t have a good night tonight, but that was the decision . . . and it was an easy decision.”
Lopez has a 2.19 ERA over 24⅔ innings. Monday was the first time he had allowed more than a run.
“It’s always a tough spot to be in as a manager,” Taillon said. “I understand it. Lopez has been one of the best relievers in baseball ever since we got him over here; he’s been lights-out. Also just kind of a weird inning. Obviously, Cutch put a great swing on a good pitch, and then Reynolds is a great player, but to get the runners on base in front of him, it was like a bloop and an infield hit or whatever.”
The Cubs’ bullpen has been a bright spot in the second half, particularly Lopez, who threw 23 pitches Monday, 14 for strikes. On the homer to McCutchen, he put his sinker down and away.
The Cubs (71-67), 3½ games behind the Braves for the third National League wild-card spot, have given themselves little room for error after a combined 21-34 record in May and June. Counsell remains pragmatic.
“We lost,” he said. “We didn’t get it done tonight. Back at it [Tuesday].”
The Cubs’ next two series are against the Yankees, who have been playing around .500 ball since July 1, and the Dodgers, whose starting rotation has been ravaged by injuries.
Counsell announced after the game Monday that left-hander Justin Steele will be scratched Tuesday with a sore elbow and that right-hander Kyle Hendricks will take his start against the Pirates.
“Steely has been awesome for the last couple of years here,” Taillon said. “He’s a guy we all look to when it’s his day, and you see Steele on the mound, you know you’re going to get a good effort and you’re going to be in the game. It stinks, but from everything I’ve heard, we’re hoping it’s just a quick thing. He means a lot to this group.”