Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (8/14/21): Marlins 5, Cubs 4 – Comedy of Errors Lead to 10th Consecutive Loss

The Cubs entered Saturday’s game with nine consecutive losses and were trying to avoid posting a second double-digit losing streak in a season for the first time since 1954 (h/t FullCountTommy). Chicago rallied to take a late lead, but this time it was poor defense that led to yet another defeat.

Both Zach Davies and Zach Thompson were pitching well early and no one scored a run through three innings. Rafael Ortega doubled to open the 4th inning and would come home to score on a Patrick Wisdom bloop single to give the Cubs an early lead.

That would hold until the 6th inning, when a walk and an error by shortstop Sergio Alcántara put two men on for Brian Anderson. Davies made his only mistake of the game, a hanging change-up that Anderson blasted for a go-ahead three-run homer.

The Cubs staged their own rally in the top of the 8th inning against Dylan Floro. They loaded the bases for Frank Schwindel, who ripped a ground-ball double down the line to clear the bases and give Chicago a 4-3 advantage.

In the bottom half of the frame, Miami took advantage of two more errors from Alcántara and retook a 5-4 lead. Anthony Bender came on and closed out an uneventful 9th for the Marlins win. (Box score)

Why the Cubs Lost

Four of the Marlins’ five runs were unearned on Saturday night, not a great recipe for success. Alcántara’s errors revealed just another of the many holes left by the Cubs’ sell-off.

Key Moment

Magneuris Sierra singled home the go-ahead run off of Codi Heuer in the bottom of the 8th.

Stats That Matter

• Davies pitched well on Saturday: 6 IP, 3 R, 0 ER, 4 H, 7 K, and 1 BB. Better defense and he gets a win.
• Ortega has extended his on-base streak to 18 games as he continues to stay hot.
• The Cubs recorded their league-leading 50th pinch-hit of the season.

Bottom Line

The Cubs’ slide shows no sign of stopping with loss number 10 in a row. This is one of the worst Chicago teams any of us has seen, including those from the start of the last rebuild. Hopefully, this is an extreme downturn and an even quicker rebound because I don’t think any of us would like to watch a whole year of this in 2022.

On Deck

Chicago hopes to avoid another sweep Sunday at 12:10pm CT. Alec Mills faces a yet-to-be-named Marlin starter in a game available on Marquee Sports Network and 670 The Score.