Cade Horton's rookie gem wasn't enough on July 20, 2025, as the Cubs' bullpen faltered in a 6-1 loss to the Red Sox. See how the late-game collapse unfolded.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a day that started with the promise of a series sweep and ended in familiar frustration. Rookie sensation Cade Horton delivered another brilliant performance on the mound, but it wasn't enough as the bullpen faltered late and the offense couldn't capitalize, leading to a 6-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox at Wrigley Field. The defeat not only snapped a winning streak but also served as a glaring spotlight on the team's needs as the trade deadline rapidly approaches.
5.2 scoreless innings, 2 hits, 4 strikeouts. Cade Horton was nearly untouchable, yet the Cubs walked away with a loss.
For nearly six innings, Cade Horton looked every bit the future ace, silencing the Red Sox lineup with a masterful mix of pitches. He departed with two outs in the sixth inning to a well-deserved ovation, having allowed just two hits and holding a 1-0 lead. The game was handed to the bullpen, and that's where the script flipped. Ryan Pressly entered in the seventh and promptly surrendered a walk followed by a go-ahead, two-run homer to Wilyer Abreu. The wheels came off from there, with Alex Bregman adding a three-run pinch-hit blast in the eighth and Abreu hitting his second of the day in the ninth to seal the lopsided final score.
While the bullpen collapse will dominate headlines, the offense shares in the blame. The Cubs' only run came in the second inning when Pete Crow-Armstrong smoked his first of two doubles and was driven in by an Ian Happ single. After that, the bats went cold. PCA was a lone bright spot, but the team's inability to cash in on opportunities was maddening, epitomized by leaving the bases loaded in the fifth. One run on a Sunday at Wrigley simply isn't going to cut it, especially when the starter gives you a chance to win.
Today's loss feels bigger because of the context surrounding the team. The graduations of Horton, Crow-Armstrong, and Matt Shaw have, as expected, caused the Cubs' farm system to slide to No. 16 in recent rankings. While still boasting top-end talent like Moises Ballesteros and Owen Caissie, the depth has taken a hit. This puts the front office in a fascinating position. The need for a lockdown bullpen arm is painfully obvious, and with prospects like Caissie, Kevin Alcantara, and James Triantos being floated in rumors, the assets are there to make a move. Today's game was a perfect, if painful, audition tape for why a trade is necessary.
One frustrating loss doesn't derail a season, but it certainly brings the team's needs into sharp relief. As the Cubs prepare to host the Kansas City Royals, all eyes will be on the front office. With a talented but now thinner farm system, the pressure is on to make the right moves before the trade deadline. Will they leverage top prospects like Caissie or Alcantara to acquire the bullpen help needed to support stellar starts from guys like Horton? The next week and a half will define the rest of this season's story.
