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Adbert Alzolay holds his own vs. the Cleveland Indians’ Shane Bieber, but the Chicago Cubs offense wastes scoring chances in a 3-2 loss

meghan montemurro, chicago tribune
·3 min read

Every time Adbert Alzolay takes the mound for the Chicago Cubs, the rookie right-hander tries to build off his previous outing.

Tuesday’s start against the Indians in Cleveland, with the designated hitter in play, meant his performance — and not a looming pinch-hitting situation — dictated how deep into the game the 26-year-old would pitch. And given the Cubs lineup was opposing the dominant Shane Bieber, Alzolay knew he needed to keep it close.

For the third time in seven games, the Cubs faced a Cy Young Award winner, another challenge for an injury-tested team. The Cubs can lament failing to deliver an early blow to Bieber in a 3-2 loss at Progressive Field. They went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base.

Alzolay held his own in countering Bieber, another valuable experience for the developing starter. He kept the Indians to three runs in six innings for his second quality start and didn’t walk a batter while striking out six.

“I feel my body is getting more into a rhythm now to get deep into the games, too, so today was a good day,” Alzolay said. “Just missing two pitches in 3-2 counts. When you’re in the big leagues and you miss those locations against good hitters, you’re going to get tough results.”

The Cubs’ best chance with Bieber on the mound came in the second. The first four batters reached, securing a 1-0 lead on Willson Contreras’ RBI double. But Bieber struck out Ildemaro Vargas — a late addition to the lineup after Javier Báez was scratched with lower back tightness — and got Eric Sogard to hit into an inning-ending double play.

Sogard hit his first home run of the season in the fifth, besting Bieber in a seven-pitch battle to put the Cubs ahead 2-1.

The Cubs put at least one runner on base in each of the final four innings but couldn’t bring home the tying run. Manager David Ross acknowledged his team’s missed opportunity when it had Bieber reeling in the second, but he thought the Cubs put together good at-bats throughout the game.

“We put up some hits, we just couldn’t break through with something in the gap with guys in scoring position or anything to fall really with some opportunities there,” Ross said. “But I was pleased overall with how the offense attacked some really good pitching tonight.”

Two Indians home runs accounted for their three runs off Alzolay. José Ramírez’s leadoff homer in the fourth tied the score at 1. César Hernández connected on Alzolay’s 3-2 slider in the fifth for a two-run homer that proved to be the decisive runs.

The slider has been a devastating pitch for Alzolay. Entering Tuesday’s start, hitters had a .111 average and .288 OPS with 21 strikeouts in 57 plate appearances versus his slider. Hernández’s homer was the first this year off the pitch, which came on the fourth consecutive slider he threw to the Indians second baseman.

“Sometimes the best lessons we learn are moments like that, that don’t work out for us,” Ross said. “He attacked (Hernández) with his best pitch and I love that. ... Pitch sequencing and calling, all that stuff can always be second-guessed if it doesn’t work out, but I think if he executes a nice slider there, it’s a different story.

“So you’ve got to tip your cap sometimes to the other team. Those guys are really good players too.”

Kris Bryant exited the game in the sixth because he was dealing with “sinus stuff” for a couple of innings, Ross said, and was having trouble breathing. It wasn’t getting better as the game progressed, so Ross decided to take him out.

A bug is going around the Cubs clubhouse, said Ross, who hopes it’s nothing major.