Another day, another impressive win by the Chicago Cubs. There hasn’t been much to get excited over this season, but beating the St. Louis Cardinals always feels good. Chicago’s offense gave another tremendous effort in Friday’s 6-3 victory at Wrigley Field.
Starter Javier Assad had a short outing so it was up to the Cubs’ relievers to provide stability. What was once a weakness is now a strength thanks to a new bullpen configuration that’s featured impressive long relief outings from Tyson Miller and Drew Smyly.
The Cubs must string several more wins together if they have any hopes of postseason baseball. Their chances are fleeting but not entirely dashed.
Tale of the Tape
The Cubs have been searching for offensive urgency all season, and Friday was an example of just how good it could be. Facing the Cardinals’ newest starter, Erick Fedde, the Cubs came out swinging with a five-run second inning.
Pete Crow-Armstrong’s RBI single opened the scoring. Getting some run with Tomas Nido injured, Christian Bethancourt made his presence felt with a three-run home run.
Oppo taco for Bethancourt! pic.twitter.com/1oXVbcne2k
— Cubs On Tap (@CubbiesOnTap) August 2, 2024
Michael Busch piled on with a solo shot to make it 5-0 Cubs.
The Cardinals scored their first run when Paul Goldschmidt drew a bases-loaded walk in the third inning.
While Javier Assad has enjoyed some success this season, he’s showing some cracks in his armor lately. A four-inning outing isn’t going to get it done as a starter. The Cubs need length from their rotation and Assad hasn’t provided it.
The bullpen did its job, but the Cubs can’t afford to tempt fate every time Assad starts. Perhaps a trip to the bullpen is in his future if he can’t extend his starts.
Things got dicey in the eighth inning as the Cardinals chipped away at the Cubs’ five-run lead. Back-to-back walks with the bases loaded brought St. Louis within two.
Counsell can’t find Mark Leiter Jr down in the pen anymore. This would be his spot. Dirty inning with a lefty up. Hector Neris in now nursing a 3 run lead…which is 2 after he walks in a run. https://t.co/k5sut9PZQ9
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) August 2, 2024
But in the bottom of the inning, a gift from Cardinals’ reliever Kyle Leahy led to an insurance run for the North Siders. Attempting to pick Seiya Suzuki off second base, Leahy’s errant throw allowed the Cubs to pad their lead.
Hector Neris rose to the occasion by limiting the damage and slamming the door on the Cardinals in the ninth inning. After Friday’s win, the Cubs own a 54-58 record.
Takeaways
The Cubs are playing quality baseball against an important opponent. A sweep of the Cardinals would be ideal, and the Cubs are halfway there having clinched at least a series split.
While postseason baseball may not be in the Cubs’ future, they can at least make the rest of 2024 enjoyable. Eliminating efforts that insult the viewer’s intelligence would be refreshing for a change.
