Cubs’ losing streak reaches four after rare misplay by second baseman Nico Hoerner
ATLANTA — Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner’s knack for improvising performs that defy perception has a flip aspect, though it’s not often seen.
The ”Oh, wow” offers technique to an ”Oh, no.”
With the Cubs and Braves tied at a run apiece within the eighth inning Wednesday, Hoerner noticed Michael Harris II sprinting down the road on a sluggish curler and determined his solely likelihood to get him out was to shovel the ball underhanded together with his glove to first baseman Michael Busch.
To the Cubs’ horror, the ball went over Busch’s head. Harris reached safely, and an evening of what supervisor Craig Counsell referred to as ”superior. . . fantastic” pitching by Shota Imanaga was about to enter a loss of life spiral.
Imanaga departed, then reliever Phil Maton hung a few curveballs — one which pinch hitter Mike Yastrzemski hit for a tiebreaking double and one other that Mauricio Dubon launched into the left-field seats for a two-run dwelling run.
Braves 4, Cubs 1.
Raisel Iglesiaswho has but to be scored on this season, completed off the Cubs within the ninth for his eighth save, and the Braves grew to become the primary crew within the majors to succeed in 30 victories.
The Cubs, in the meantime, have their first four-game losing streak of 2026. In two days, the Braves’ bullpen has held them to 2 singles in 10 scoreless innings. The Cubs have scored a complete of three runs throughout their skid.
”We made lots of very nice performs tonight,” Counsell stated on an evening leather-based was flashed on each side. ”I’m positive Nico — it was a troublesome play, not a simple play — I’m positive he would let you know, ‘I might have made that play,’ however it was a troublesome play.”
Counsell is aware of his second baseman.
”I believe I made it a more durable play than it wanted to be,” Hoerner stated. ”Just type of misinterpret the timing of it. Looking again on the play, there was undoubtedly time to switch to my hand.
“But you do rely on instincts all the time, and I trust that works most of the time. . . . But it definitely stings to have an error lead to the game-winning run.”
The official scorer gave Harris successful, and Imanaga was saddled with the loss on an evening by which he set the Braves down so as in 5 of his seven-plus innings, did not stroll a batter and allowed solely 5 hits, together with a house run to Drake Baldwin within the fourth.
The homer got here on an out-of-the-zone slider that Baldwin needed to attain for, however he was nonetheless sturdy sufficient to hit it 402 toes over the center-field wall.
Wonderful pitching? Imanaga would not go that far.
”My outing, if I did not surrender any runs, the Cubs would have had an opportunity to win,” he stated. ”So I believe when I’m taking a look at it, , I ought to have saved it to zero.”
Giving Liam a glance
The Cubs are taking a flier on reduction Liam Hendrikswho received the hearts of White Sox followers in two seasons as their All-Star nearer (2021-22), then tugged on their heartstrings together with his very public — and profitable — battle in opposition to Stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The Cubs signed Hendriks, 37, to a minor-league deal and initially plan to ship him to their facility in Mesa, Arizona, with the expectation that he’ll finally be a part of Triple-A Iowa, Counsell stated.
”It’s primarily simply depth proper now and taking a shot at somebody who’s had lots of success and see what occurs,” Counsell stated.
Counsell says the Crosstown sequence is extra particular for followers than gamers.
Ten years after losing a drama-drenched World Series in seven video games to the Cubs, who ended their 108-year title drought at Cleveland’s expense, the Guardians are honoring their 2016 AL pennant-winning crew this weekend whereas triggering reminiscences combined with pleasure and ache.
