The Cubs couldn’t take out the lowly Reds and expand their Central Division lead. This sets off a loud alarm, as we head into the home stretch. Cubs hitting has been all-or-nothing, they haven’t dominated individual series, and relief pitching has been atrocious. Today, it was starting pitching, as John Lester gave up 7 earned runs in the second inning. It was part of a 9-run barrage, reminiscent of the Big Red Machine of years long passed. The Cubs were somehow able to rebound from this deficit only to give up more in relief. It was just like yesterday, when the inconsistent Cubbies jumped out to a five-run lead, lost it, and then regained it for victory. At least this series ended in a 2-2 split, with Joe Madden facing a fine for arguing a really bad call.

The only good news in the loss is that Red’s reliever, Drew Storen, got the victory, his fourth of the season. He is the son of a former co-worker that I’ve followed as he moved from Stanford University, to the Washington Nationals, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, and currently the Cincinnati Reds. It’s rare when you know a Major Leaguer, but he’s actually the second that I’ve encountered via friendship in this lifetime. The other was Scott Rolen, the son-in-law of a former boss. Both of my connections actually worked for the same television station in Indianapolis, as I did. Even more remarkably is the fact that Drew Storen and T.J. Yates, currently a back-up QB with the Buffalo Bills, grew up near each other in the Indianapolis area. Drew’s father liked to joke that his son “had the second-best arm in the neighborhood,” even though his fastball approached 100 miles an hour, 410 career strike-outs and 100 career saves. He just pitched an “immaculate inning” earlier this year – nine pitches for three strike-outs. Immaculate is not the word for Cub pitching this year.

Meanwhile on the South Side of Chicago, the White Sox have slipped below 20 games out of first place. Only Philadelphia has fewer wins and no losses. Rookie sensation Yoan Moncado hitting only .185 with two home runs – so much for the future. The Sox lost a tough one to the Dodgers, now 51 games over .500, last night on a walk-off, after leading most of the game. They did recently sweep the Houston Astros before their current four-game losing streak.

Hang in there, Cubs – only a month and a half left in the season before the Playoffs begin. It doesn’t look like St. Louis, Milwaukee, and Pittsburgh “want it” bad enough, as they can’t seem to gain any ground against the struggling Cubs. I’ll be in Chicago for the AL Division series, if they need me, and I’ll be in New York for the World Series. Maybe the Minor League All-Star Game won’t be my last hurrah this year! It’s been a good retirement year, especially if I extend it back to the 2016 World Series at Wrigley. Following that experience, it was spring training in Port Charlotte, Dodger Stadium, AT&T Park, Oregon State, Yankees at White Sox, and both the Minor and Major League All-Star Games. What’s next?