Cubs Continue Their Decline With 6-4 Loss to Brewers

The Chicago Cubs are in a rough stretch right now. Nothing seems to be going right as the season drags on. It's trending toward a point of no return as Thursday's loss to the Milwaukee Brewers dropped the Cubs below .500 for the first time since March 31.

Jameson Taillon's day on the mound was serviceable. Getting six innings from a starter usually means things are going well. But in the case of the Cubs, if one thing is working, then something else is going wrong.

As the calendar turns to June, the Cubs face a tall task in trying to get back in the NL Central race. It doesn't help that they dug this hole against divisional rivals.

Tale of the Tape

Things were looking bright for the Cubs with a first-inning home run from Cody Bellinger. One positive during this downturn has been the reemergence of some key members in the lineup.

If the Cubs want to save their season, they'll need contributions from these players. The starting pitchers have done their jobs, it's time now for the offense to return the favor and step up.

Jameson Taillon did the best he could. His hit total was high, but he didn't allow walks to ruin the day. The Brewers manufactured their runs by hitting their way on.

On the other side, Colin Rea did the same. But with the inconsistency the Cubs have shown lately, they couldn't capitalize on offense.

Down 3-1, Seiya Suzuki tied the game in the seventh inning with a pinch-hit homer. The game was in striking distance at this point, and Brice Turang knew it by responding with an RBI single off Mark Leiter Jr. to put the Brewers up 4-3.

In this back-and-forth battle, the Cubs' offense came alive once again. This time, Christopher Morel tied it once more with a solo shot. Once again, the Cubs weren't going down without a fight.

The Cubs jumped some key members of the Brewers bullpen. Bryan Hudson has been a force but was responsible for Suzuki's and Morel's home runs.

Something was brewing for the Cubs in this game, and it was up to them to finish it out. But as usual, nothing went right at the most crucial time in the game. With Tyson Miller on the mound, Gary Sanchez gave the Brewers the last laugh with a game-winning two-run shot.

Takeaways

With the disastrous road trip behind them, the Cubs return home looking for a spark in front of the North Side faithful. With no changes to the roster, hope is all that this team really has. The changes that need to happen aren't being put into motion yet.

The Cubs are currently 5.5 games out of first place in the NL Central. Following Thursday's loss, the St. Louis Cardinals surged ahead of them in the race. The Cubs' front office and roster need to show a sense of urgency to get back on track.

There are several holes on this roster. Rather than slumping through the season, the team needs to be bold and do what's right. The time for waiting on players who continue to struggle should be over.

What's On Tap Next?

The Cubs return to Wrigley Field on Friday to take on the Cincinnati Reds for the first time this season. Javier Assad will take the mound for the Cubs against Reds' righty Graham Ashcraft. First pitch is at 1:20 PM CT and the game will air on Marquee Sports Network.

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