Cubs Win on Rainy Saturday, Fall on Sunday to Drop Series to Reds

The Chicago Cubs entered the month of June two games below .500. A pair of wins over the weekend would bring them right back to that .500 mark, but anything less and they'd remain on the wrong side. Would a rainy Saturday and quick turnaround on Sunday work in the Cubs' favor?

Sloppy Saturday

Before the game ever started, the Cubs and Cincinnati Reds were waiting things out. A 6:15 p.m. start time became a 9:35 p.m. first pitch due to rain in the Chicagoland area. Even with the delayed start, most of the game was played in rainy, wet conditions.

The Reds got on the board first. Although they had bases loaded, Justin Steele managed to induce a would-be pop out with two outs. Seiya Suzuki dropped the ball, allowing three runs to score and Luke Maile to end up at second base. In the following at-bat, Stuart Fairchild singled to score Maile and give the Reds the 4-0 lead entering the bottom of the second.

Fortunately, the Cubs struck back in the bottom of the inning. Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson walked to lead off the inning against Hunter Greene. Pete Crow-Armstrong stuck out, but then Miguel Amaya walked to load the bases. Following a Mike Tauchman strike out, Seiya Suzuki made up for his error.

For the first time in his career, Suzuki hit a grand slam, tying the game at four and igniting Wrigley Field.

In the bottom of the third, the Cubs took the lead. With Christopher Morel and Ian Happ on base, Nico Hoerner's single drove in the go-ahead run. It was early, but a 5-4 lead felt sweet for the Cubbies.

In the top of the fourth, the Reds answered the call yet again. With two men on, Jeimer Candelario drove in Fairchild. However, the Cubs were able to throw Elly De La Cruz out at third and escape the inning without further damage. A 5-5 tie lasted until the bottom of the eighth.

Nico Hoerner reached in the bottom of the eighth to set up a magical moment. Dansby Swnason, who's been ice cold all season long, launched his fifth home run of the season to put the Cubs in front 7-5. Hector Neris came in to close the game and the Cubs won by that same 7-5 final over the pesky Reds.

Sunday Scaries

Following a late-night win, it was a quick turnaround with just over 12 hours between first pitches. Ben Brown took the bump for the Cubs in the series finale, looking to give the Cubs their first series win since mid-May.

Unfortunately for the Cubs' sensational young righty, the Reds got to him early. The Reds loaded the bases in the second inning, leading to a Jonathan India sacrifice fly. Although that looked like a break, it wasn't. TJ Friedl hit his first home run of the season two batter later to clean up for Cincinnati. The three-run shot made it a 4-0 ballgame.

The Reds added another in the top of the third, with Jake Fraley scoring Jeimer Candelario on a sac fly. The five runs would be all the Reds needed.

The Cubs threatened in the bottom of the fifth and sixth. Cody Bellinger drove in Seiya Suzuki on one of his three hits for the afternoon. Later, a groundout from recently-recalled David Bote scored another run.

Sadly, that's all the Cubs mustered. A 5-2 loss made it six consecutive series losses for Chicago.

Play a Different Tune in June

Right now, things are not looking up for the Cubs. Although early May saw the team win, the latter half of the month was putrid. Six consecutive series losses has the Cubs two games below .500 and 7.5 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers for the division lead. Fortunately, the Cubs are only 0.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot, meaning playoff hopes are still alive despite looking up at the Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals.

It starts this week with two beatable opponents. The Chicago White Sox and Reds grace the schedule for six games this week following the Monday off day. The Cubs need to take advantage of their June schedule and flip their May record on its head.

What's On Tap Next?

The Cubs have Monday off before they welcome the White Sox to town on Tuesday. The two-game set will then lead to the Cubs venturing out of town for seven games in eight days. Tuesday's first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT and will feature RHP Chris Flexen for the visitors and LHP Shota Imanaga for the Cubbies.

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