Cubs hit another new low in double-digit loss to Yankees
The Cubs started the season with a goal of providing some hope for the future. Or maybe create a more pleasant present than expected.
They're 0-for-2 with those goals, with still more than 100 games left in what is quickly becoming a lost season.
The Cubs were trounced by the Yankees 18-4 on Sunday afternoon, their sixth straight loss. They put a fight in the series opener, losing in 13 innings, but the second two games produced a combined score of 26-4.
The most impressive moment of the day might have been when Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka hit a Frank Schwindel slow ball measured at just 35 mph for a home run in the eighth inning.
"When you play one of the best teams in baseball, you realize we've got some areas we need to improve," manager David Ross told reporters after the game. "Can't get behind the eight-ball that much early on."
A good illustration of how this series went for the Cubs was how a popular topic among Yankees media was whether the team should trade for Cubs catcher Willson Contreras, who will almost certainly leave town before the trade deadline Aug. 2.
The Cubs chose to send Keegan Thompson back to the mound on his regular rest after a disappointing performance in Baltimore on Tuesday. Justin Steele and Kyle Hendricks were pushed back to the first two games of the upcoming homestand.
Thompson didn't even finish the first inning Sunday. After giving up a leadoff single to Aaron Judge, Thompson walked three in a row to force in a run, before shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa drilled a ground-rule double into the left field corner to make it 3-1.
"I wasn't throwing strikes," Thompson said. "I think mechanically, we're not quite there yet again."
Patrick Wisdom then dropped an infield pop up, keeping the inning alive for another 2-run double to left, this time by Joey Gallo. That's when Ross pulled Thompson and brought in Daniel Norris. He struck out Judge to end the first inning, but surrendered a 3-run homer to Matt Carpenter in the second to make it 8-1.
Matt Swarmer took plenty of flak for giving up 6 home runs to the Yankees on Saturday night. Compared to this, Swarmer's 6 runs over 5 innings was a masterpiece on the mound.
"Can't be putting guys on base," Ross said. "High run-scoring environment here, lineup does a lot of damage. We've got to stay away from free passes."
The Cubs did collect 11 hits and ended their 0-for-48 slump with runners in scoring position, believed to be the longest in the majors in at least 50 years. Ian Happ went 3-for-3 with a home run and triple.
Before the game, the Cubs activated left-hander Sean Newcomb (ankle) from the injured list and sent pitcher Michael Rucker back to Iowa. Newcomb gave up 5 runs in the seventh inning Sunday. Rucker allowed 5 earned runs in his previous two outings.
Alec Mills threw 3 innings Sunday, which means the Cubs will likely need to bring up a starting pitcher from the minors for Wednesday's game against San Diego, since Marcus Stroman, Wade Miley and Drew Smyly are on the injured list.
Ross said the Cubs plan to shut down outfielder Seiya Suzuki for about a week to allow swelling to go down in his sprained left index finger. Suzuki had been taking batting practice in an effort to return, and has been sidelined since May 26.
"He's probably 85-90% and I think we all came to the conclusion it's not smart to have a setback," Ross said before the game. "Give him a little bit more rest, maybe give him a week to just really calm it all the way down, per doctor's orders, and try to ramp up after that."
Twitter: @McGrawDHSports