Cubs' bats silent in 3-0 loss to Diamondbacks

The Cubs' inability to get that elusive big hit cost the team Saturday.

After a leadoff walk by second baseman Nico Hoerner, first baseman Michael Busch crushed a ground-rule double to left field to put runners on second and third with no outs and the Cubs trailing by three runs.

After back-to-back strikeouts by outfielders Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ, the Cubs loaded the bases when third baseman Christopher Morel walked. But designated hitter Mike Tauchman grounded out to end the inning.

The Cubs' middle-of-the-order bats failed to capitalize in key moments, putting the team in a precarious position after the 3-0 loss.

"[Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen] was around the zone, challenging our ball/strike stuff all night," manager Craig Counsell said. "We did a pretty good job of it, but ultimately we needed to [get] the next hit to score and didn't get it."

After entering the break riding the high of a 5-2 road trip, the Cubs haven’t started the second half as strong as they hoped with back-to-back losses. They’re digging themselves deeper, with the trade deadline just 10 days away.

"These are two tough ones," starter Kyle Hendricks said. "We knew coming out of the break that these were going to be a couple big series to start. Just unfortunate to drop these two."

The Cubs' highest-paid hitters aren't delivering in scoring situations far too often. Only catcher Miguel Amaya, pinch hitter Miles Mastrobuoni and Busch had a hit Saturday.

After cruising through the first four innings, Hendricks faced some turbulence in the fifth. The veteran right-hander allowed a home run to Alek Thomas, a walk and a home run to Corbin Carroll.

Hendricks’ performance (three earned runs in five innings) was enough to win, but the offense didn't give him any support.

"Just a really good lineup over there," Hendricks said. "They put the pressure on you and just put good swings on good pitches there."

Granted, Gallen is one of the best pitchers in the game, but most playoff teams will have pitchers either on Gallen’s level or better.

With the National League wild-card race muddled with mediocre teams, the Cubs still find themselves in the race for the third spot. They're 4.5 games behind the Mets, but five teams separate them.

Hendricks said the Cubs have a sense of urgency, but they just can't get that one swing to change the game.

"We put some really good swings on balls in big situations, and the field's beaten us," Hendricks said. "We've given up just a bunch in the basket, so some of it's got to be luck just not going our way. The game seems to come down to who outhomers the other team, and we just got to be better. It starts with us on the mound; we can't give them up."

At 47-53 with a negative run differential and their playoff chances dwindling, the Cubs aren't persuading the front office to make any improvements at the trade deadline July 30.

"We gave up three [runs] tonight," Counsell said. "That should put us in a pretty good chance to win."