Cubs fall short in best-of-AL test, drop series vs. Tigers: ‘Hopefully we’ll get to face them again’
DETROIT – A three-game series against the top team in the American League knocked the Cubs out of their spot atop the National League.
Their 4-0 loss to the Tigers (43-24) in the rubber match Sunday gave the Cubs a 40-25 record. And over the weekend, the Mets (42-24) sped past them on a three-game winning streak.
“I’ve played in Detroit plenty,” said right-hander Jameson Taillon, who pitched Saturday. “I’ve never seen the stadium like this, with this kind of energy, which is really cool. So in that sense, I think it’s cool that two great teams are going up against each other.”
The matchup between the pair of first-place teams drew plenty of attention. There were sellout crowds every day, with a paid attendance total of 121,509 for the series.
“Playoff atmosphere,” Cubs catcher Carson Kelly said. “You continue to take care of business, and you see how taking advantage of those mistakes from the other side is really magnified. They took advantage of those mistakes this series.”
That was especially true in their 3-1 Friday, when the Cubs, who have prided themselves on being detail-oriented on base paths and on defense, wavered slightly on both counts. The Cubs’ bats showed up in their 6-1 win Saturday, to the tune of five home runs, but fell quiet again Sunday.
“Hopefully we’ll get to face them again at some point,” Kelly said, flashing a knowing smile.
The Cubs don’t face the Tigers again during the regular season. So if the teams meet again this year, it’ll be in the World Series.
Horton records first loss
Cubs rookie Cade Horton had the worst start of his young major-league career on Sunday, and it wasn’t all that bad.
Horton allowed a career-high four runs in five innings, navigating traffic for much of the outing.
“Fastball execution wasn’t there today,” he said. “Gave him the momentum early.”
He gave up a leadoff single to Parker Meadows on a 2-2 fastball down the heart of the plate and then walked Gleyber Torres to begin the outing. Then with two outs, Horton missed over the middle again, and Spencer Torkelson teed off for a two-run double.
Horton allowed two more runs in the fifth inning, on consecutive base hits by Torres, Kerry Carpenter and Riley Greene. After a mound visit from pitching coach Tommy Hottovy, Horton recorded back-to-back strikeouts to get out of the inning and end his outing on a good note.
“Fastballs up,” Horton said of his focus before his next start. “Left a lot down over the plate today, and they got hit. Last week that wasn’t the case. Last week I was executing at the top of the zone, and just didn’t have it today.”
The Cubs have won all five other games in which Horton has appeared.
Imanaga update
Left-hander Shota Imanga (strained left hamstring) threw a 37-pitch bullpen Saturday at the Cubs’ Arizona spring training complex. He’s scheduled to pitch two innings in an Arizona Complex League game Monday, according to the team.
