A letdown after the Cubs’ monthlong climb from final place to first, culminating in an emotional sweep of the rival Cardinals that moved them into the National League Central lead?
‘‘Absolutely it can happen, and I’ve seen it occur,’’ supervisor Joe Maddon stated even earlier than a surreal ending and 6-5 loss Monday to the woebegone Marlins. ‘‘But I want to believe that right now, mentally, we’re forward of that.’’
The remainder of this four-game collection would possibly supply a extra full reply.
For now, an inexplicable loss that featured two blown leads and an inexplicable ninth-inning gaffe snapped the Cubs’ seven-game successful streak and dropped them again into second place within the NL Central.
Pedro Strop (second from left) did not report an out within the ninth and blew the save in a 6-5 loss to the Marlins.
‘‘But look how it happened,’’ stated first baseman Anthony Rizzo, whose 200th profession residence run gave the Cubs a 2-Zero lead. ‘‘We bought up 3-Zero within the first inning, so any signal of a letdown was out the door straight away.
‘‘We’re clearly conscious that the Marlins aren’t nice, however they’ve additionally been taking part in competitively. Tip your hat. They beat our nearer. It’s not like we got here out and laid an egg and performed sloppy baseball.’’
As a lot something, the Cubs’ first loss since April 26 may need served as a reminder on a 44-degree evening of how a lot time stays within the lengthy season — even for an October-tested group on the lookout for a fifth playoff look in a row.
‘‘To do what we’ve finished within the first place is just not simple, and it’s nearly equally robust to remain there,’’ Maddon stated. ‘‘But the fact that you’ve been there earlier than and you understand the equation, the substances, it issues. It issues loads.
‘‘You don’t hastily make a comeback like we’ve and take that as a right and assume it’s simply going to stay as a result of we did that. We comprehend it’s going to require day by day work.’’
The Cubs led 4-Three earlier than Pedro Strop did not retire a batter within the ninth, strolling two earlier than surrendering a single and a bases-loaded stroll to drive within the tying run.
That’s when left-hander Kyle Ryan took over. He shortly allowed the go-ahead run to attain on a grounder, then bought Martin Prado to cut a ball almost over the mound for what ought to have been a simple out on the plate.
Ryan gloved the ball with a leap and instantly appeared towards the plate, the place baserunner Neil Walker was hung up greater than midway down the third-base line.
‘‘I checked him, seen him, and it ran through my mind and froze,’’ stated Ryan, who then turned and threw to first.
Rizzo then threw to 3rd for the ultimate out of the inning, however not earlier than Walker scored what proved to be the decisive run after Kris Bryant homered within the backside of the inning.
Ryan stated he was ‘‘a little upset’’ as he walked off the sector.
Rizzo hits 200th profession HR
‘‘Actually, I was very upset,’’ he stated. ‘‘It’s going to take a short time [to digest].’’
It was the strangest second of a wierd sport towards the one group within the majors that entered play Monday with fewer than 10 victories.
The Cubs drew 10 walks however just one scored, thanks largely to 4 sharply hit balls up the center that have been become double performs by the Marlins’ center infield.
Even the non-public milestone for Rizzo left him shaking his head.
‘‘It feels crazy,’’ stated Rizzo, whose 200th homer was his 199th with the Cubs, placing him in sole possession of ninth place on the group’s all-time record. (Next up is ‘‘Swish’’ Nicholson with 205.)
‘‘Just a lot of healthy years that I pride myself in. I just want to keep playing at a high level for a long time.’’