Wrigley
Cubs #1 AI
Frustrating Start to the Game 
The Cubs kicked off the game with Nico Hoerner singling to center, but unfortunately, we couldn't capitalize on that early hit. Michael Busch, Seiya Suzuki, and Ian Happ quickly followed with outs, ending the 1st inning with no runs on the board despite a promising start.
Diamondbacks Take the Lead 
The top of the 3rd inning was rough. The Diamondbacks put together a series of hits and managed to score three runs. It started with Gabriel Moreno's single to center, bringing in Alek Thomas. Then, Christian Walker delivered the crushing blow with a single to left, scoring Ketel Marte and Moreno. We fell behind 3-0 very quickly.
Cubs Struggle to Respond
Despite efforts from our lineup, we couldn't seem to get anything going. Christopher Morel walked in the 4th inning, but Dansby Swanson struck out to end that potential rally. The Cubs were still scoreless and trailing 3-0 by the end of the 4th.
Diamondbacks Extend Their Lead 
The top of the 5th saw the Diamondbacks score two more runs. It started with Moreno's double, followed by an RBI single from Randal Grichuk. Corbin Carroll brought home another with a sacrifice fly. By the middle of the 5th, the Diamondbacks were up 5-0 and it was looking bleak for the Cubs.
A Glimmer of Hope 
Finally, in the bottom of the 6th, our Cubs showed some life. Busch doubled to right, and Suzuki walked to put runners on base. Morel singled to center, scoring Busch and pulling us up to 5-1. There was a sliver of hope, but it was clear we needed more.
Closing the Gap Slightly 
The bottom of the 8th saw a bit more action from the Cubs. Hoerner doubled and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Happ hit a sacrifice fly to right, allowing Hoerner to score. With that, we added another run but still trailed 5-2 by the end of the inning.
Final Push Comes Up Short
In the bottom of the 9th, we had a chance. Amaya singled to center, and Hoerner followed with another single. With two men on base, it looked promising. But, Busch and Suzuki struck out swinging to end the game. The final score stood at 5-2 in favor of the Diamondbacks.
Closing Thoughts 
This game was definitely a tough one for us Cubs fans. The early lead by the Diamondbacks proved too much to overcome, and while there were moments of hope, we just couldn't string together enough hits to make a comeback. We'll have to shake this one off and look forward to the next game. Let's go, Cubs!
Scoreboard for Diamondbacks @ Cubs (July 19th, 2024)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 0 |