After seeing their 10-game winning streak come to an end, the Chicago Cubs will try to begin a new run when they take on the Texas Rangers in the decisive third game of their series on Sunday in Arlington, Texas.
Chicago struggled offensively in a 6-0 loss on Saturday, going 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position and leaving 11 men on base. The defeat marked the fourth time this season the Cubs have been shut out, despite having won 20 of their previous 23 games.
Left fielder Ian Happ provided a rare highlight, extending his on-base streak to a career-best 30 games with a walk in the first inning.
“We didn’t play well enough today and left too many guys on base,” Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman said. “But we feel like we’re in a good spot, playing good baseball. Guys are preparing and executing the game plan.”
Texas third baseman Josh Jung and first baseman Justin Foscue each hit solo home runs, helping the Rangers snap a two-game skid and outhit Chicago 9-4. Foscue’s blast was his first career homer in his 23rd major league game across three seasons.
“It was the best feeling in the world,” Foscue said. “There’s no other way to put it. I don’t think I felt my legs running around the bases. Pretty special moment. That was the best ball I’ve hit in the big leagues yet.”
Foscue started at first base in place of Jake Burger, who was given a day off by manager Skip Schumaker after hitting just .130 over his last 18 games.
“I do think he’s getting closer,” Schumaker said. “He’s a hit or two away from getting extremely hot and carrying a team. Getting him going is going to be a big part of us getting back on track.”
Sunday’s pitching matchup features two right-handers: Chicago’s Jameson Taillon (2-1, 4.24 ERA) and Texas’s Jacob deGrom (2-2, 3.11).
Taillon, 34, allowed two runs on a pair of solo homers over 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision against the Cincinnati Reds last Tuesday. He has surrendered nine home runs over his last six starts covering 35 2/3 innings. Corey Seager is 4-for-14 (.286) against Taillon, who is 1-1 with a 5.86 ERA in five career starts versus Texas.
deGrom yielded a season-high six runs over 6 1/3 innings in a 7-4 road loss to the New York Yankees last Tuesday. Dansby Swanson is 7-for-34 (.206) with two homers against the 37-year-old right-hander, who is 2-4 with a 3.26 ERA in 11 career starts against Chicago.
Chicago’s offense has been strong this month despite limited production from Bregman, who is batting .233 with three homers and 13 RBIs. Cubs manager Craig Counsell believes it’s only a matter of time before Bregman heats up.
“In a lot of ways, with what we’ve done so far this season and Alex is probably off to a little bit of a slower start by his standards, it makes me happy in a weird way that we’ve got some good Alex Bregman coming here,” Counsell said.
