Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (6/30/21): Brewers 15, Cubs 7 – Cubs Blow Huge Lead, Lose Sixth Consecutive Game

This isn’t going to be a typical recap. I could go over all the Brewers’ run-scoring, but I doubt you want to hear it. The Cubs are at a crossroads right now and have reached the low point of a slide that could trigger Jed Hoyer to sell.

Things started so well on Wednesday with Chicago jumping out to a 7-0 lead in the 1st inning. Rookie starter Aaron Ashby was the victim early, as a total lack of control and RBI hits by Javy Báez and Jake Marisnick allowed the Cubs to send 12 men to the plate before the Brewers got to bat.

The problem was that Jake Arrieta, who continues to struggle mightily, was not able to hold that lead. He was pulled after just two innings and six runs allowed, after which things did not get better. The Cubs bullpen has finally started to break down from all the stress of the poor starting pitching and Wednesday was no exception.

The eight-run 4th inning, the second gigantic frame the Cubs had surrendered in the three-game series, felt almost inevitable well before it happened. By the end, it was just a mop-up duty yet again as Eric Sogard pitched for the second time in three days. (Box score)

Why the Cubs Lost

Arrieta was unable to give the Cubs any length after the offense got off to such a good start to open the game. It’s just very hard to win when your starting pitching does such a bad job.

Key Moment

Tyrone Taylor hit a routine tapper back to Arrieta with two out in the 2nd inning, but the pitcher threw wildly to first. Taylor collided with Patrick Wisdom, who was playing first base and ended up leaving with an injury on the play, sending the ball rolling down the line. Both runners on base at the time came in to score and the lead was reduced to 7-5.

Stats That Matter

• Just an unacceptable effort from Arrieta: 1.2 IP, 6 R, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 K, and 4 BB.
• Wisdom had two hits before his injury, which appeared to be concussion-related, forced him to leave the game. It’s unclear how long he will be out but it’s one more injury that the Cubs did not need.
• Willson Contreras had a single and three walks to reach base four times on Wednesday.

Bottom Line

The Cubs are free falling, having now lost a season-high six games in a row to drop six games out of first. Things just seem to be getting worse and there are no easy fixes. One change that can be made is Arrieta, who simply does not have what it takes to be a competitive major league pitcher at the moment.

On Deck

Chicago looks to stop the bleeding against the Reds in a three-game series starting Friday in Cincinnati. Alec Mills faces off against Sonny Gray at 6:10pm CT in a contest airing on the Marquee Network and 670 The Score.