Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (4/21/24): Marlins 6, Cubs 3 – Missed Scoring Chances Cost Cubs in Loss

The Cubs entered Sunday trying to win their series against a struggling Marlins team. Unfortunately, Chicago could not take advantage of numerous golden scoring opportunities and Miami got the win and split the series.

Kyle Hendricks looked better early on but surrendered a long solo home run to Jesús Sánchez in the top of the 2nd inning. The Cubs got the run back in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single from the red-hot Nico Hoerner.

Miami jumped all over Hendricks in the top of the 4th with a series of singles to score three runs. Sánchez, Tim Anderson, and Emmanuel Rivera each brought home a run in the inning. Chicago rallied back in the bottom half with two runs on a Hoerner double and a bloop hit by Cody Bellinger.

The Cubs had runners in scoring position in each of the first seven innings of the game but could never land the big blow to get back in the game. The Marlins would tack on two more runs charged to Drew Smyly and they took home a 6-3 victory. (Box score)

Key Moment

The Cubs had runners on second and third with one out in the bottom of the 4th, but Christopher Morel and Michael Busch were unable to come through and knock in the tying run.

Why the Cubs Lost

They were 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position in this game. Those missed opportunities were very costly and it certainly didn’t help that Hendricks could only go four innings yet again.

Stats That Matter

• Hendricks’ stuff with a little sharper but the results are still not great: 4 IP, 4 R, 6 H, 5 K, and 0 BB.
• Hoerner had three more hits, including two doubles, and is hitting over .400 since his hot streak began.
• Adbert Alzolay pitched a clean 8th inning in his first appearance after being demoted from the closer role.

Bottom Line

It’s definitely disappointing to see the Cubs split with a team struggling as badly as the Marlins were but stuff like that happens in baseball. Outside of Hoerner, the rest of the offense has been struggling the past few games as the injury to Seiya Suzuki has really hurt the production in the lineup. Hendricks is still struggling to find it and with Justin Steele getting closer to a return, he’s going to have to figure things out in a hurry if he wants to keep his job.

On Deck

The Cubs are off Monday before welcoming the surprisingly struggling Astros for a three-game set starting Tuesday at 6:40pm CT. Jordan Wicks is scheduled to start and Houston has not named a starter yet in the contest airing on TBS, Marquee, and 670 The Score.