Cubs' Maddon: We know we can beat Cardinals
As far as the Chicago Cubs see it, the glass is two-thirds full. At least.
That was the feeling Sunday, even after a 4-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals before 40,692 fans, most of whom no doubt left voiceless after another exciting game at Wrigley Field.
Just as they did in St. Louis right after Labor Day, the Cardinals won the final game of a series against the Cubs after dropping the first two.
The Cubs had chances for sweeps each time, but they like what's been happening lately.
“I couldn't be more proud of our guys,” said manager Joe Maddon, whose team is 87-62 after having its five-game winning streak snapped. “It's obvious that we're playing on the same level as they are right now. I'm really proud of our guys for that.
“How far we've come in one season to get to this particular game today … they win. Give them credit. They are very good, also. But I think now we know we can beat them, and they know we can beat them, too, and that's a good thing.”
Maddon no doubt is looking to plant something in the heads of the Cardinals, whom the Cubs may end up facing in the National League division series.
St. Louis (93-56) leads the NL Central by 4 games over Pittsburgh (89-60), which beat the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. The Cubs are 6 games behind the Cardinals and 2 behind the Pirates for the first wild-card spot, with a comfortable 9-game lead for the second wild-card spot.
Lefty Jon Lester started for the Cubs on Sunday and took the loss, going 6 innings as he fell to 10-11. Lester has been on championship runs with the Boston Red Sox, and he likes what he sees, especially the way the Cubs fought the Cardinals of late.
“Obviously the ultimate goal is through them,” he said. “They've proven they can do it year in and year out. We haven't. The way we've been playing baseball this year, I don't see why we can't compete with these guys. I think we've proven that over the last week or so.
“If we are lucky enough and we play good enough baseball that we face these guys down the road, I think these last six games have helped guide us as far as confidence, just getting over that hump of beating these guys. If we get fortunate enough to face these guys, we'll be right there with them playing good, hard baseball, doing the same things they did.”
It was good, hard baseball all weekend long. Sunday's game featured a hard takeout slide at second base by the Cardinals' Yadier Molina on Cubs shortstop Addison Russell in the second.
“He said, ‘I'm sorry, my bad,'” Russell said. “I think that's a clean play anyway. I didn't get hurt. He didn't get hurt. No hard feelings.”
The Cardinals scored 3 in the first and 1 in the third before Anthony Rizzo's 2-run single cut the deficit in the bottom of the third.
The Cubs got a bases-loaded walk from Tommy La Stella with nobody out in the eighth. But Rizzo was thrown out at the plate on a throw from short-to-medium right field on a flyball to Jason Heyward. Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal then came in and struck out Miguel Montero.
“He's a really good outfielder,” Maddon said of Heyward. “He's done that all year.”
In the bottom of the ninth, Starlin Castro led off with a single and was pinch run for by Quintin Berry, who was 25-for-25 lifetime in stolen-base attempts. This time, though, Cards catcher Tony Cruz got him at second base, and Rosenthal wound up finishing for his 46th save.
“You can't wait around for several hits in a row against Rosenthal,” Maddon said. “He's throwing 100 miles an hour. “There's nothing to lament about today's game. That's a really good baseball game, and they beat us. That's it. That's just a good baseball game, and I'm really proud of our guys.”
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Cubs scouting report
Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field
TV: Comcast SportsNet Monday and Wednesday; Comcast SportsNet Plus Tuesday
Radio: WBBM 780-AM
Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Jason Hammel 8-6) vs. Wily Peralta (5-9) Monday; Jake Arrieta (19-6) vs. TBD Tuesday; Kyle Hendricks (7-6) vs. Zach Davies (1-2) Wednesday. All games 7:05 p.m.
At a glance: The Cubs are 9-4 against the Brewers this season, 4-2 at Wrigley Field. The Brewers will go with a “bullpen day” for Tuesday's starting pitcher. Adam Lind entered Sunday with a line of .288/.371/.477 with 19 homers and 81 RBI for the Brewers. Ryan Braun, who has been day to day with back tightness, had 25 homers and 84 RBI. The Brewers are trying to get out of last place in the NL Central. Arrieta makes his second attempt to win his 20th game Tuesday. He got a no-decision in last week's Cubs victory at Pittsburgh.
Next: Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field, Friday-Sunday
— Bruce Miles