Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (8/7/23): Mets 11, Cubs 2 – Polar Bear Puts Cubs on Ice

The Cubs’ series against the Mets got up to a very rough start as the home team took home a lopsided victory on a rain-soaked evening in Queens. Chicago got a bad starting pitching effort and got buried by a star performance from slugger Pete Alonso.

Drew Smyly continued to struggle mightily on Monday night, giving up a three-run homer to Alonso in the bottom of the 1st inning. A Cody Bellinger RBI single off of Kodai Senga got the Cubs on the board in the top of the 3rd.

Alonso struck again in the bottom of the frame with a two-run shot to put the Mets ahead 5-1. Bellinger added a second run-scoring single in the 5th to cut the deficit to three, but New York added a pair of runs in the 6th before a belated rain delay of nearly two hours extended the misery.

The Mets kept pouring it on once play resumed with a three-run dinger by Danny Mendick off of Daniel Palencia in the 7th. The Polar Bear added a sixth RBI on a single against catcher Tucker Barnhart, who pitched the 8th inning in the 11-2 rout. (Box score)

Key Moment

Smyly has been allowing a lot of 1st-inning runs during his recent issues and Monday was no different. The Cubs immediately fell behind and were facing the Mets’ best pitcher, not a winning strategy.

Why the Cubs Lost

They dug themselves a hole and the offense was not able to rally this time.

Stats That Matter

• Smyly has been really bad for over a month: 5 IP, 7 R, 8 H, 5 K, and 2 BB.
• Bellinger was the Cubs’ entire offense Monday with three hits and both RBI.
• Nico Hoerner had a pair of singles as well.

Bottom Line

It’s reached the point where Chicago can’t keep using Smyly in the rotation. He just doesn’t give them a chance to win right now with his ERA spiking all the way to 5.05, up two full runs from May. When Marcus Stroman returns from injury, they have to drop Smyly from a starting role and let one of the younger arms get a chance. The Cubs are fighting for a playoff spot right now and they can’t afford starting pitching efforts like Monday’s.

On Deck

Chicago looks to rebound on Tuesday at 6:10pm CT as Jameson Taillon gets the start against Carlos Carrasco in a contest available on Marquee and 670 The Score.