Cubs Drop Tough Series Against Rays

     Game 1

     The Cubs won a close battle in game one, capitalising late to earn the victory.

     Chicago continued its hot start as it scored first for the ninth time in its first ten games of the season, this time scoring in the second inning. Suzuki reached on an error to start the inning, and after one out Wisdom blasted a 420-foot bomb to left to grab a 2-0 lead.

     The Rays slowly battled back to tie the game with Lowe at the center of each of their runs. Lowe started the fourth with a single, before stealing second to get into run-scoring position. After one out, Choi singled in Lowe to get within a run.

     The Rays scored again in the fifth, this time after Lowe singled home Phillips with one out before a double play ended the inning.

     Thompson relieved Hendricks after the Rays scored the tying run and was brilliant yet again. The righty pitched three and two-thirds scoreless innings allowing only two baserunners while striking out five on the way to victory. This continued his great start to the year, tallying nine and two-thirds innings of scoreless ball while striking out ten.

     The score remained tied until the bottom of the seventh, when the Cubbies finally broke the deadlock. Suzuki started the inning getting hit by a pitch and was quickly joined on the basepaths by Villar after he drew a walk. Two quick outs that failed to advance the runners dimmed hope of a breakthrough. With two outs, Happ stepped up and delivered the key hit, a single up the middle to drive home Suzuki and give Chicago a one-run lead.

     Schwindel added an insurance run bashing a solo homer on the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the eighth for a two-run advantage heading to the ninth.

     Robertson closed the door in the ninth to grab his fourth save of the year and get the Cubs two games over .500.

     Game 2

     Another tight game saw the Rays even the series with a 6-5 victory.

     Tampa Bay raced out to a four-run lead, scoring once in the second, followed by three more in the third, highlighted by Wander Franco's first homer of the season.

     The Cubs battled back in the fourth, plating three runs of their own. With one out, Happ singled to center and quickly scored on a Schwindel double to left. After another out, Ross boldly pinch-hit Wisdom for Heyward and immediately benefited as Wisdom launched a two-run home run to get Chicago within one.

     The scoring stalled until the seventh when the Rays scored two more in the top of the inning to extend the lead to three.

     The Cubs fought back once again in the the bottom of the inning. Frazier was hit by a pitch before Hoerner laced a triple to left. Hoerner scored on a wild pitch to make the deficit one.

     Chicago failed to complete the comeback, going down in order in both the eighth and ninth innings.

     Game 3

     Rain cut short a dreadful series finale for Chicago, falling 8-2 after five and a half innings.

     Stroman got rocked early, just as he got hit hard late in his last outing, as the Rays scored five runs in the first two innings, highlighted by a Meija home run in the first.

     The Cubs got on the board in the third. Villar and Happ singled followed by a Schwindel doubled that plated Villar and Happ scored on an RBI ground-out by Madrigal.

     The Rays scored three more in the fifth, bouncing Stroman from the game having allowed eight runs in four and a third innings.

     The rain got worse and before the Cubs had a chance in the bottom of the sixth the game was called with a final score of 8-2.

     The good

     Suzuki continued his great start to the season reaching base six times in ten plate appearances and Wisdom continued his power surge, blasting two home runs in the series. Schwindel collected three extra-base hits as he continues to swing the bat well this season. Keegan Thompson was brilliant in relief of a solid start by Hendricks in game one as well. I think the trade of Chavez for Newcomb could help the team as well. Newcomb has a lot of potential and hopefully, a change of scenery helps.

     The bad

     Stroman getting hit hard again is tough to see, but I believe he will turn things around soon enough. The offense was not great overall, hitting below .200 for the series. Steele getting hit hard will be one to watch as all of the top three in the rotation has had a bad start already in this young season.

     Looking ahead

     The Cubs get to stay home for a four-game set against the Pirates (5-7), who they split a two-game series with earlier in the year.