FanPost

Cubs' losses after taking multiple leads

When a team narrowly fails to make the post season, any number of losses can be pointed to as the reason they failed.

The Cubs led at some point this season in 33 of their 78 losses.

Here is a look at the 8 games in which they led more than once but wound up losing.

...

APRIL 2: 9-5 VS. BREWERS

The Cubs took the lead after just 2 batters, as Nico Hoerner singled, stole second and came home on a single by Dansby Swanson.

The Brewers tied the game in the second on a 2-out single off Jameson Taillon that put runners on the corners and a double.

Patrick Wisdom's 2-out solo homer in the bottom broke the tie.

Back-to-back singles and a sacrifice fly in the third knotted the score at 2.

A single and a triple by the first 2 batters in the fourth put the Brewers ahead again, 3-2.

...

In the sixth, the Brewers loaded the bases with 1 out on a walk, a bunt single, a wild pitch and a walk.

3 more singles, a sacrifice fly and yet another single produced 5 runs, making the score 8-2, and the Cubs never came closer than 4 the rest of the way.

..........

APRIL 3: 7-6 AT CINCINNATI

The first 2 Cubs reached base to start the game, then Cody Bellinger homered.

The Reds tied the game with 3 runs in the bottom of the first on a leadoff walk by Drew Smyly, followed by 4 consecutive singles.

In the second, 2 singles and a fielder's choice put the Reds in front, 4-3.

The Cubs pulled even in the fourth, on a single by Swanson, a double by Ian Happ and an RBI groundout by Trey Mancini.

After Wisdom was hit by a pitch, Eric Hosmer doubled home both runners: 6-4.

...

Smyly gave up a leadoff single in the bottom half.

With 1 out, he hit a batter.

With 2 out, he served up a go-ahead 3-run homer and neither team scored again.

.........

APRIL 28: 3-2 AT MIAMI

Nelson Velazquez homered with 2 out and nobody on in the third.

The Marlins responded with a run on a walk, steal, single and ground ball double play.

Bellinger tripled with 1 out in the eighth and scored on Hosmer's pinch-hit single.

...

The Marlins came right back to score on a 1-out walk and a pair of singles that knocked out Marcus Stroman.

Their leadoff batter in the ninth singled off Michael Rucker, who then hit the next batters and yielded a walk-off hit on an 0-2 pitch.

..........

MAY 27: 8-5 VS. REDS

Swanson smacked a 1-out triple in the first and scored on Happ's groundout.

Taillon allowed a 1-out double and 2-out RBI single in the second.

In the bottom half, singles by Yan Gomes, Wisdom and Hoerner produced 1 run, then a single to left-center drove in 2 more: 4-1.

...

Taillon gave up a run in the third on a 1-out double and 2-out single.

He retired the first 2 batters in the fifth, but walked the third, who stole second and came home on a single.

...

Michael Fulmer came in from the bullpen and his second pitch was blasted into the seats in right field, putting the Reds in front, 5-4.

They led, 8-4, before the Cubs scored again in the seventh. They had 2 on with 1 out in the ninth but Swanson was out on a dribbler in front of the plate and Happ struck out.

..........

MAY 31: 4-3 VS. RAYS

Hoerner led off the first with a walk, stole second and scored on a 1-out single by Happ.

Happ then stole second and scored on a 2-out single by Mike Tauchman.

Hayden Wesneski protected the 2-0 advantage through the sixth and set down the first 2 batters in the seventh before issuing a walk on a 3-2 count.

Mark Leiter Jr. relieved Wesneski. The first batter he faced homered, tying the game.

...

Seiya Suzuki started the Cubs' seventh with a double. Tauchman bunted him to third and pinch hitter Trey Mancini singled him home: 3-2.

But Leiter began the eighth with a 4-pitch walk. The runner stole second on his first pitch to the next batter. The count reached 3-1, then the batter homered.

...

The Cubs left runners on second and third in the eighth, when Happ was called out on a 3-2 pitch.

They loaded the bases in the ninth with 1 out. Miles Mastrobuoni swung and missed on a 3-2 delivery. Gomes worked the count full, then flied out to left.

..........

JUNE 18: 6-3 VS. ORIOLES

Center fielder Tauchman threw out a runner who tried to score from third on a 1-out fly ball, then led off the Cubs' half by slamming a homer on the first pitch.

The Orioles got a leadoff homer off Taillon in the fourth, then took the lead on a single, walk and single.

...

Bellinger's 2-out fly in the bottom half was dropped, putting him on third. Christopher Morel followed with a go-ahead homer: 3-2.

The lead evaporated in the sixth, when Taillon gave up a leadoff single, a double and a sacrifice fly.

Anthony Kay took over and surrendered 3 straight singles that drove in 2 more runs.

...

The Cubs left runners on second and third in the seventh when Hoerner grounded out.

The Orioles rounded out the scoring with a 2-out single and RBI double off Wesneski.

..........

SEPT. 1: 3-2 AT CINCINNATI

The Cubs, once 26-36, had reached 72-62 by winning Game 1 of a doubleheader, 6-2.

In Game 2, they went ahead, 1-0, on a 2-out homer in the third by Bellinger.

Back-to-back doubles off Smyly in the bottom half tied the game.

With 2 out and nobody on in the Cubs' fifth, Hoerner walked, stole second and came home on a single by Happ.

...

Adbert Alzolay came in to start the ninth. He struck out the first batter, then served up a game-tying home run, then a single.

As he struck out the next batter, the runner stole second and went to third on a throwing error by catcher Gomes.

The next pitch was turned into a walk-off single.

..........

SEPT. 16: 7-6 AT ARIZONA

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth. A triple and double with 1 out, and a single with 2 down, gave the Diamondbacks a 2-0 lead against Kyle Hendricks.

The Cubs loaded the bases in the fifth on a double by Gomes, a single by Nick Madrigal and a walk to Happ.

Hoerner walked, forcing home Gomes, and a Madrigal scored as Morel grounded into a double play.

Bellinger smacked a 2-strike single, driving home Happ: 3-2.

A third straight 1-out single in the sixth tied the score and knocked out Hendricks.

...

In the 10th, "Manfred Man" Hoerner stayed at second on an infield hit by Morel. On a 0-2 ball to Bellinger, Hoerner tried to steal third. The catcher's throw got past the third baseman, allowing Hoerner to sprint home.

An intentional walk and unintentional walk loaded by bases for Gomes, who hit into a forceout.

...

Marcus Stroman took the mound for the Cubs in the bottom half. The first batter lined an 0-2 pitch for a game-tying single.

Stroman retired the next 3 batters and the game went into the 11th.

...

Gomes held second on a grounder, then advanced to third on a hit by Happ and put the Cubs in front, 5-4, on a single by Hoerner.

The Diamondbacks bunted their "Manfred Man" to third. He came home on a single off Smyly: 5-5. A double play ended the inning.

...

the Cubs had runners on first and second with 1 out in the 12th. A groundout and fly ball ended the threat.

The Diamondbacks loaded the bases on a leadoff walk and 1-out infield single. Smyly notched a strikeout and coaxed a grounder.

Wisdom singled Gomes to third in the top of the 13th. Gomes scored as Happ grounded into a double play.

...

The Diamondbacks bunted again to start their half.

Wesneski replaced Smyly and issued a 5-pitch walk.

A popup left the Cubs 1 out from victory. They were 1 strike away when the batter lined a ball off Wesneski that shortstop Swanson was unable to catch, enabling the tying run to score from third.

The next batter lined an 0-2 pitch to right for a walk-off single.

..........

SEPT. 27: 6-5 AT ATLANTA

The Braves got a 1-out homer in the first off Taillon.

Bellinger opened the Cubs' second with a single, advanced to second on a walk to Suzuki and reached third on a fly to right by Swanson.

The first pitch to Jeimer Candelario clearly ticked his bat, then got past the catcher. But the umpire did see the contact and Bellinger raced home on what was ruled a passed ball.

Solo homers in the third, by Tauchman with 1 out and Happ with 2, gave the Cubs a 3-1 lead.

...

Through 6 innings, Taillon had given up just 2 hits and walked none. But he walked the first batter in the seventh and a single sent the runner to third.

The next batter hit a medium-speed grounder to second baseman Hoerner, whose flip to shortstop Swanson was off target. A run scored on the play: 3-2.

Taillon departed in favor of Smyly, who preserved the lead by getting a groundout, strikeout and popup

...

Julian Merryweather got the first out in the eighth before Ronald Acuna Jr. singled, stole second and tied the game on a single by Ozzie Albies.

Albies tried to steal on a 3-2 pitch. The batter swung and missed and Albies was gunned down.

...

Swanson was hit by a pitch with 1 out in the Cubs' ninth, then swiped second. Candelario walked, bringing up Gomes, whose broken-bat single drove home Swanson: 4-3

Mark Leiter Jr. got the first out in the bottom half. Ozuna then walloped a 3-0 fastball for a tying homer.

After a double, Jose Cuas replaced Leiter. He coaxed a pair of grounders to preserve the tie.

...

"Manfred Man" Tauchman scored in the 10th on fly balls by Hoerner and Happ: 5-4

The Braves' runner at second went to third on a groundout against new reliever Daniel Palencia.

He scored moments later on a single by Acuna Jr.

Acuna Jr. stole second, prompting an unnecessary delay as he celebrated becoming the first player to hit 40 homers and steal 70 bases in a season.

Albies took a ball, then singled to right. Acuna Jr. reached home ahead of Suzuki's throw and the Cubs lost their eighth game of the year in which they had led more than once.

FanPosts are written by readers of Bleed Cubbie Blue, and as such do not reflect the views of SB Nation or Vox Media, nor is the content endorsed by SB Nation, Vox Media or Al Yellon, managing editor of Bleed Cubbie Blue or reviewed prior to posting.