The Chicago Cubs faced a heartbreaking defeat against the Colorado Rockies. In the bottom of the ninth inning, pinch hitter Sterlin Thompson’s walk-off single clinched a 3-2 victory for the Rockies, leaving the Cubs players and coaches stunned. This loss dropped the Cubs to a .500 record, a place they hadn’t been for nearly two months after a 10-game winning streak in April. The present slump has marked their 10th consecutive series loss, with the Cubs dangerously close to a sweep by one of the league’s lowest-ranked teams.
Edward Cabrera, scheduled to start on Thursday, lingered in the dugout, visibly absorbing the Rockies’ celebration. The Cubs’ offensive struggles have been evident, with run-scoring opportunities becoming scarce. Left-hander Shota Imanaga delivered an impressive performance, pitching five scoreless innings against Michael Lorenzen, who came into the game with an 8.01 ERA. Despite Lorenzen’s high number of hits and earned runs allowed during the season, the Cubs managed only one run and two hits in five innings against him, scoring through a Moisés Ballesteros sacrifice fly in the fourth inning.
“We didn’t produce enough opportunities tonight,” said Cubs manager Craig Counsell. “We had five hits, just very few at bats with runners in scoring position, very few rallies, so it’s a night offensively where we just didn’t do enough.”
Imanaga, debuting at Coors Field, joined the ranks of Japanese-born pitchers who have pitched at least five scoreless innings there, including Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Kenta Maeda, and Hideo Nomo. Imanaga allowed only two hits and two walks while striking out seven. “I kept us in the game, but the last four starts I couldn’t help the team win,” Imanaga said, through translator Edwin Stanberry. “Moving forward, just using today and thinking about it every time I’m out there and helping the team win.”
The Cubs’ bullpen was tasked with maintaining the slim lead after Imanaga. Phil Maton and Caleb Thielbar pitched two scoreless innings, leading to Jacob Webb entering in the eighth. Webb, usually reliable, allowed a single and a two-run homer, putting the Rockies ahead 2-1. It marked the first runs Webb had conceded since early May and his first home run surrendered since late April.
Ian Happ provided a glimmer of hope with a game-tying home run in the ninth inning, his 15th of the season. However, the Cubs failed to capitalize further, and the Rockies quickly mounted pressure on Cubs reliever Daniel Palencia. With runners on first and third and no outs, Thompson’s decisive single sealed the victory for the Rockies.
The Cubs’ offensive woes continue to be the core issue, with players like Happ expressing frustration. “The frustrating part for us, or the confusing part, is that we’re still getting guys on base and not finding a way to get guys in,” Happ stated. He noted the importance of scoring with men on base to become a successful offense. “We’re going to cash out at some point, and we got to keep believing that. The hardest part is getting out of your own way and just letting things happen, trusting your process.”
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