Ross returns to dugout, Cubs swept by Giants
Kris Bryant reunion weekend at Wrigley Field ended with a David Ross comeback story.
Ross was back in the dugout after serving a 10-day quarantine. He tested positive for COVID, but said he never felt under the weather or experienced any symptoms. He did gain some perspective, though.
"I think it's clear I really like my job," Ross said. "The ups and downs of it are what fuel you. I miss these guys and being part of a team, it feels good. Being home by yourself, I realize I don't like myself that much."
The Cubs attempted their own comeback story Sunday, but ultimately fell short. The San Francisco Giants completed the sweep with a 6-5 victory.
Bryant went 2-for-5 with an RBI on Sunday, so he finished the weekend 4-for-12 at the plate. He was charged with an error in this game when he was about to catch David Bote's fly ball in right, but it was knocked loose in a collision with center fielder Austin Slater.
Trailing 6-3, the Cubs added a pair of runs in the seventh. It started with a walk to Sergio Alcantara, then Bote drove him in with a double and Robinson Chirinos added an RBI single. Two more singles by Frank Schwindel and Ian Happ loaded the bases with one out.
Giants submarine pitcher Tyler Rogers came close to walking in the tying run. Willson Contreras took a 3-2 pitch that was called a strike, but was inside based on the pitch tracker. Then Alfonso Rivas struck out on a 3-2 pitch that was clearly not a strike.
Patrick Wisdom doubled with one out in the ninth, but the Cubs couldn't get him home. Happ continued his resurgence at the plate by hitting his 22nd home run in the fourth.
The Cubs played well while Ross was stuck at home and bench coach Andy Green filled in. They finished this home stand with a 6-4 record despite the sweep by San Francisco, and pulled off a few walk-off wins.
"The walk-offs are like this super happy and sad moment," Ross said. "Like, why am I not there? But super happy and watching Frank and everybody. I think there's a sense of you're super happy for guys like Happer who have been through the ringer in the first half.
"After the wins, you're super happy, but also like, 'Man I'd love to be in the locker room with the music blaring and the high-fiving on the field.'"
Jason Heyward got the day off after taking a knee to the head when he slid into third base during Saturday's contest.
Justin Steele was Sunday's losing pitcher. He gave up 5 runs and 11 hits in 5 innings, throwing a career-high 101 pitches.
"Getting strike one, that's another thing I took from today," Steele said. "I really need to go out there and get strike one and get ahead of hitters. When you get behind in counts, it puts the advantage in the hitters by a big margin.
Hoerner heads to Iowa:
Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner, out since July 28 with an oblique injury, began a rehab assignment with the Iowa Cubs. He started at shortstop and grounded out twice before leaving the game.
Hoerner started rehab in Class A South Bend a few weeks ago, but pulled himself out of the game after feeling some tightness on a swing.
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