Enhanced Box Score: Cardinals 7, Cubs 5 - June 25, 2023
I should’ve realized this morning that, even if it was in another country, this was still a “Sunday game where the Cubs are going for a sweep.” They never had a chance.
You never want to say a SINGLE play early in the game was the reason for the ultimate outcome. Things could’ve played out very differently if this, and not that, and whatever.
… but dang is it going to be hard not to think that Trey Mancini’s failure to complete an extremely routine play at first base, which led to three runs scoring, wasn’t the reason the Cubs lost today. And it’s going to be even harder not to think about the fact that Cody Bellinger came in later, so he WAS available to start, and Mancini played first base instead because of a match-up.
If you missed it, having already terribly booted a throw from Dansby Swanson in the first – with Marcus Stroman pitching around it – Mancini made an even worse mistake in the second inning. He wandered off of first base on a routine grounder to second base, so he was all turned around when trying to receive the throw from Nico Hoerner, TRIED TO BAREHAND IT, DROPPED IT, and it wound up leading to THREE RUNS with two outs.
Mancini can’t make the play and the Cardinals are on the board pic.twitter.com/vnPJpe78ob — Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthewCFB) June 25, 2023
Given that we’ve been railing on Mancini’s defense for over a week now, it’s not exactly hindsighting to say that it was an absurd decision to start Mancini at first for “match-up” reasons. Bellinger was “under the weather,” but came in as soon as the Cardinals’ lefty departed. So starting Mancini was definitely a choice.
There were other things, of course. Stroman was not at his best (and left with a blister issue). The bats got way too quiet after the first inning, despite the Cardinals having to go to the bullpen early. The game was winnable in other ways.
… but …
Full box score.
Source: bleachernation.com
