The Cubs lost to the Braves 7-0 on Tuesday night in Atlanta and honestly, I could end this recap here because there’s not much to say about a Cubs team that had only three hits, only one for extra bases and only got two runners. past first base.
It was the first time that the Cubs had been shut out in two consecutive games since April 27 and 28, 2021 and, interestingly, both were also against the Braves, in Atlanta. Truist Park has become something of a house of pain for the Cubs. They are 7-14 overall there since that park opened in 2017, and have now lost six in a row there, and that includes winning the first three games they played at the Braves’ new park in 2017.
However, there are some good things we can talk about here. Jameson Taillon didn’t pitch as badly as his four-inning record shows. He was charged with all seven runs, although five of them were unearned due to his fielding error that started the disastrous bottom of the fourth. Taillon threw 85 pitches, which is a lot for just four innings, so Craig Counsell did well to take him out of the game after that.
Miles Mastrobuoni, who had never before started a game at shortstop at the MLB level, made several good defensive plays, including this one throwing to Jarred Kelenic at the plate (VIDEO).
![Braves Shut Out Cubs 7-0: Scoring Runs is Key to Victories Braves Shut Out Cubs 7-0: Scoring Runs is Key to Victories](https://i0.wp.com/keynoteusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Braves-Shut-Out-Cubs-7-0-Scoring-Runs-is-Key-to.jpg?resize=1170%2C612&ssl=1)
You have to give him credit, Mastrobuoni played a good game at short. Hopefully, he won’t have to play much there, through no fault of his own, but the Cubs were missing two infielders after Nico Hoerner was scratched from the starting lineup due to a hamstring strain. Hamstring problems have hurt Nico in the past, so let’s hope this is nothing serious. Here’s what was learned after the game:
Nico Hoerner tweaked left hamstring during BP.
Counsell said they didn’t want to risk anything tonight. They’ll see how Hoerner feels tomorrow.
Hoerner said he’s day to day. Asked if it bothered him before today, he said “we’re always dealing with little things here & there.”
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) May 15, 2024
If it is worse than “day to day,” we will likely see Luis Vázquez debut in the MLB.
Jose Cuas, who started poorly this season and was optioned to Triple-A Iowa, pitched two scoreless innings and now has four scoreless innings under his belt since being recalled last week. That dropped his season ERA from a horrible 12.00 to a bad, but not too bad, 7.20. Hopefully, that continues, the Cubs could use some good relief work.
Newly acquired Tyson Miller also pitched two scoreless innings. Again, that kind of thing could help this beleaguered bullpen.
It’s a bit subtle, but it appears Miller is coming more armed than during his first season with the Cubs in 2020.
Whatever the difference, Miller was effective in this game and has been pretty good this year overall. He has no options, so the Cubs will have to keep him or expose him to waivers again. If he pitches like he did in this game, he’s worth keeping. It should be noted that Miller pitched briefly (seven games) for Craig Counsell in Milwaukee last year, so the Cubs manager has some familiarity with him.
Here are Counsell’s post-game comments (VIDEO).
That’s all I have here. I hope the Cubs’ offense wakes up Wednesday night against Braves starter Charlie Morton and they can avoid a sweep and avoid being shut out in three straight games for the first time since April 27-May 1, 1992. , when they did not score for four games in a row. games. The Braves were also involved in the first three, also in Atlanta. Javier Assad will start for the Cubs. Game time, once again, is 6:20 pm CT, and television coverage will be on Marquee Sports Network.
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