Cleveland loses in extras to Cubs 3-2
The Cleveland Baseball Club lost to the Chicago Cubs in extras by a score of 3-2, this was the eighth consecutive loss for the team.
Things just seem to get worse for the Cleveland Baseball Club. Looking to bounce back from their seventh consecutive loss they were not able to score enough runs and ending losing their eighth straight game by a score of 3-2.
Cleveland struggled yet again at the plate finishing with only 5 hits and 4 walks. They manufactured a run in the Top of the 1st and it was a struggle to even to score that run. Francisco Lindor would walk to lead off the game. Delino DeShields would proceed to lay down a sacrifice bunt to move Lindor into scoring position. Jose Ramirez would follow with a single, advancing Lindor to third. Lindor would end up scoring on a wild pitch from Jon Lester. Not exactly a display of proficient offense.
After the Cubs scored two runs in the 2nd and 4th inning, Cleveland was able to tie the game thanks to a solo home run from Oscar Mercado. This was Mercado’s first home run of the year. Unfortunately it did not provide a jolt of energy for the team as this would be the final run of the game for Cleveland.
Aaron Civale was Cleveland’s starter, allowing 2 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks with 3 strikeouts. This was pretty much a standard outing for Civale as he usually 2 or 3 runs and was the fifth straight outing with 6 innings pitched. Civale allowed two hits in the bottom of the 7th and would exit the game. James Karinchak would come in to relieve Civale and he managed to get out of trouble. Karinchak would strike out Ian Happ and Kris Bryant in consecutive at-bats. After a walk to Anthony Rizzo, Karinchak would induce a ground ball off the bat of Willson Contreras.
On to extras
Cleveland had a chance to win in the Top of 10th inning. Josh Naylor would walk to start the inning, making it runners at first and second with none out. Mike Freeman bunted, but Tyler Naquin was out at third. Cesar Hernandez would follow with a fly out to center and Francisco Lindor would strike out to end the inning. This was Cleveland’s last turn at the plate.
The Bottom of the 10th was problematic for Cleveland. Bryant and Rizzo would single and walk to load the bases with Phil Maton on the mound. For a second it appeared that he was going to his best James Karinchak impression with strikeouts of Willson Contreras and Kyle Schwarber. Unfortunately Javier Baez wanted the game to end and he promptly singled to left field, scoring Happ.
