Cubs Get Insurance Late, Capture Much-Needed Win Over Giants

Monday marked an epic collapse for the Chicago Cubs, perhaps their worst of the 2024 season. However, the sport of baseball always presents a new opportunity to wash away the sins of yesterday. On Tuesday, Justin Steele was ready to duel with respective ace Logan Webb and get the Cubs back in the win column.

Tale of the Tape

As expected, Tuesday had the makings of a pitcher's duel. However, the Cubs managed to get on the board early. In the bottom of the second inning, Dansby Swanson smacked a ball to right field for a two-run shot. The oppo taco gave the Cubs a much-needed lead after Monday's awful ending.

Justin Steele cruised early and kept the San Francisco Giants off the board until the fifth inning. Former Cubs depth piece and catcher Curt Casali took advantage of his opportunity with men on base. With Jorge Soler and Mike Yastrzemski on, Casali smacked a double to tie the game at two.

Both pitchers departed the contest with quality starts under their belts. Steele went 6.2 innings, allowing just four runs, two walks, and the two earned runs. The Cubs' ace also fanned eight in his outing. As for Webb, the Giants' ace went 7.0 innings, allowing six hits, two earned runs, and one walk while fanning five.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Cubs finally broke through. Michael Busch reached with a double and Cody Bellinger followed him with a RBI single. Bellinger's single was a breath of fresh air, as they need their big-money star to be THE GUY in the middle of the order.

Unlike Monday night, the Cubs weren't done. After Bellinger got to second following his single, Seiya Suzuki advanced him on a single of his own. Ian Happ cleaned it up with a RBI single to score Bellinger. Although Suzuki was thrown out at home on a Dansby Swanson fielder's choice, Christopher Morel came off the bench two hitters later to pinch hit for Miguel Amaya. Morel delivered another RBI single to make it a 5-2 Cubs lead.

In the top of the ninth, it was Keegan Thompson rather than Hector Neris on for the save. Thompson delivered by striking out the side and securing the Cubs' win. The 5-2 victory helped erase some of the feelings created by Monday's loss.

That's How You Bounce Back

With Justin Steele on the bump, the Cubs bounced back and washed away Monday's horrendous loss. Another quality start for Steele, a big home run for Dansby Swanson, and the lineup nearly batting around to add insurance runs late were all signs that the Cubs could be starting to wake up.

The Cubs are still not great at getting to team's starters, but they have continued to beat up respective bullpens. A win on Wednesday would help get the momentum started with a big series win over a team that is right in line with the Cubs in the wild card standings.

What's On Tap Next?

The Cubs and Giants finish their series on Wednesday with a 1:20 p.m. CDT first pitch . The rubber match will feature Kyle Hendricks for the Cubs, who inserts back into the rotation due to injuries to Jordan Wicks and Ben Brown. For the Giants, LHP Erik Miller will make the start.

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