Cubs lose 3-2 to Reds on Aug. 5 as Michael Soroka's debut ends in injury and Dansby Swanson's baserunning error costs the team a crucial tying run.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Monday night at Wrigley Field was supposed to be about a fresh start, with newly acquired pitcher Michael Soroka making his much-anticipated Cubs debut. Instead, it devolved into a nightmare scenario: a 3-2 loss to the division-rival Reds sealed by a baserunning blunder for the ages, all overshadowed by Soroka leaving with an injury that will land him on the IL.
With the tying run on third in the seventh, Dansby Swanson appeared to beat out an infield single, only for a replay review to show he missed first base, ending the inning and the rally.
The hope surrounding Michael Soroka's first start in Cubbie blue evaporated in just two innings. After a dominant first frame where he struck out the side, things took a turn. He surrendered a solo homer to Tyler Stephenson in the second and was promptly removed from the game. The official word came down soon after: right shoulder discomfort and a trip to the injured list. For a rotation already without Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad, losing a key trade acquisition after just 30-some pitches is a gut punch that complicates the team's pitching plans immensely.
The game's most painful moment came in the bottom of the seventh. Trailing 3-2, the Cubs had a chance to tie it. Dansby Swanson hit a chopper, and it looked like he'd beaten the throw for an infield single that would score the run from third. But a Reds challenge revealed the unbelievable: Swanson's foot never touched the bag. The call was overturned, the inning was over, and the rally was dead. It was a brutal way to lose momentum, especially since Swanson's two-run homer in the fourth was the team's only offense on a dismal three-hit night.
If there was a bright spot, it was the performance of Ben Brown out of the bullpen. Thrust into action after Soroka's early exit, Brown delivered four crucial innings of one-run ball, keeping the Cubs in the game. It was a gutsy performance that showcased the club's pitching depth. Speaking of depth, the High-A South Bend Cubs' bullpen continues to dominate the Midwest League, a promising sign for the future. But for now, all eyes turn to Tuesday, when ace Shota Imanaga (8-4, 3.25 ERA) will try to play stopper and get the team back on track.
It was a night of pure frustration at the Friendly Confines, a textbook 'what could have been' loss. The Soroka injury stings, and the Swanson misstep will be replayed in fans' minds for days. But in the NL Central race, there's no time to dwell. The Cubs are just three games back, and their ace, Shota Imanaga, takes the mound Tuesday. It's a must-win to even the series and prove Monday's bizarre loss was a blip, not the start of a slide.
