The Chicago Cubs currently hold a 29-17 record and maintain their lead in the NL Central. The last 24 hours included a difficult afternoon on the South Side. They also involved a significant roster move with one of the team’s top left-handed starters.
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MLB Game Recap
The Cubs dropped the middle game of the Crosstown Classic 8-3 to the White Sox on Saturday night. The rival offense exploded for five home runs. Starter Jameson Taillon struggled with his command. He gave up a career-high of eight earned runs. He allowed eight hits in five innings pitched (5 IP, 8 ER, 8 H, 2 K, 1 BB, 90 pitches). Then, he gave way to scoreless relief appearances from Ethan Roberts and Ryan Rolison. The turning point arrived in the very first inning. Taillon left a sinker over the plate. Miguel Vargas launched it for a three-run homer. The Cubs never overcame this deficit.
Standout Performer
Catcher Miguel Amaya provided the bulk of the Cubs’ offensive production. He finished the night 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a run scored. Amaya’s blast in the sixth inning off Davis Martin finally put the Cubs on the board. His multi-hit effort was a rare bright spot for a lineup that finished just 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
Key News & Notes
The front office made several transactions on Saturday. The moves were headlined by activating Jordan Wicks from the 15-day injured list and optioning him to Triple-A Iowa. In other pitching news, Caleb Thielbar was sent to High-A South Bend to begin a rehab assignment. Matthew Boyd reached a milestone by throwing lightly off the mound on Saturday. This followed his knee surgery. After the game, Taillon was shocked that other MLB teams passed on White Sox rookie Munetaka Murakami. He noted the slugger has “a ton of juice” and an impressive “presence up there”.
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Farm Report
- Triple-A Iowa Cubs: Lost 12-1 to the Nashville Sounds. Owen Miller finished 2-for-3 with a walk. The Iowa pitching staff surrendered three home runs in the blowout.
- Double-A Knoxville Smokies: Lost 6-2 to the Columbus Clingstones. Jordan Nwogu went 2-for-4 with a stolen base. However, the team struck out 15 times total.
- High-A South Bend Cubs: Won 24-4 against the Timber Rattlers. Miguel Useche put up a massive line (4-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB). The Cubs scored a historic 24 runs on 24 hits.
- Low-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans: Lost 11-1 to the Augusta GreenJackets; Jose Escobar went 1-for-3 and scored the Pelicans’ lone run.
- ACL Cubs: Lost 8-2 to the ACL Athletics. Jean Reyes stood out by going 2-for-3 with a double and a triple. However, the team committed five errors, hampering the defense.
Looking Ahead
The Cubs look to win the series finale Sunday at Guaranteed Rate Field. Colin Rea (4-2, 4.68 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Cubs against right-hander Erick Fedde.
A historic 24-run outburst occurred in the minors. Taillon faced a tough night in the majors. It has been a wild weekend for the system. What do you think?
