Blue Jays lose to host Cubs

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History and nostalgia aside, Wrigley Field has not been kind to the Blue Jays.

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Seven years ago, the Jays were swept in a three-game series.

They may be in for a repeat when they return to Chicago's north side, unless the Blue Jays suddenly find their form at the plate.

They made things exciting in the opening game of the series, when a long stretch of hitless innings was forgotten in the memorable ninth inning and the visitors tied the game before losing after ten innings.

Toronto made it exciting again on Saturday, but still lost 3-2 to the Cubs in another game by just one point.

It took the Jays until the seventh inning on Saturday to put pressure on the Cubs, who were able to pull themselves out of the game by allowing just one run after George Springer was thrown into the wall on a perfect throw while trying to steal third base before Vladimir Guerrero Jr. flied to center field.

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It was the first time this season that Springer was caught stealing.

For the second game in a row, the Jays came back in the ninth inning when Addison Barger hit a home run as the first batter.

It started to rain again and the rain got heavier.

With two outs, Vlad Jr. came to bat and scored the equalizing point.

He came close on Friday when he nearly hit a two-run home run.

On Saturday he struck with momentum.

HAPPY-LESS

Nobody believed what Chris Bassitt was trying to sell after his recent appearance, when he blamed the closed roof of the Rogers Centre for the Oakland A's conceding six runs in the first inning, including two home runs, even though the visitors had eleven hitters at bat.

There is no getting over it at Wrigley, and no excuses other than bad pitching to explain Ian Happ's home run on the very first pitch of the game that put the Cubs on the scoreboard, and what was to follow.

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Bassitt couldn't find the strike zone and even had pitching coach Pete Walker pay a visit to the mound.

Bassitt was able to prevent a second consecutive collapse in the first inning when the Cubs couldn't get out of their own way.

Chicago hit four home runs in its series-opening win, including a two-run belter by Cody Bellinger in the first inning.

During the Jays' second at-bat on Saturday, even Wrigley's most loyal fan would have preferred a retractable roof over his head when the rain poured down after the first out of the inning. Grounds personnel had to roll out the tarp because the game was suspended due to rain.

Shortly after play resumed, there was a second rain interruption.

After the first inning was over, Bassitt made a good impression and defied the weather-related interruptions.

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Chicago's extra runs against Bassitt could have been prevented if Daulton Varsho had been able to catch the ball on the wall deep in center field on a two-run triple.

It was also Varsho who fell headfirst to reach base after an infield hit, and the same Varsho who scored the Jays' first run with a bunt single.

Great Nate

Two rain interruptions were enough for the Cubs, who decided not to let their starter Justin Steele pitch in the third inning after the left-hander threw three strikeouts and did not allow a single hit in two innings.

Enter Nate Pearson, who faced his former team for the first time since his transfer in the days leading up to the deadline last month.

Pearson needed seven throws to properly take the team out of the game.

In the fourth inning, Pearson first pitched against Vlad Jr. and allowed a double.

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Then came Pearson's former battery mate Alejandro Kirk, who managed a five-pitch walk.

One out later, Pearson had Will Wagner at bat.

The countdown was complete before Wagner caught a very close pitch that hit the corner of the plate as the bases were full.

Pearson then struck out Davis Schneider with a swinging shot.

A fly ball from Steward Berroa's bat went wide, allowing Pearson to emerge from the inning unscathed.

Berroa entered the game two innings earlier, filling in as a pinch hitter for Leo Jimenez (right knee soreness).

Pearson needed 22 pitches to get out of the fourth inning, which was his last in his first meeting with the team that drafted him 28th overall in the 2017 draft.

In Game 6, the Jays faced another familiar face as the reunion continued at Wrigley: Julian Merryweather.

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He allowed a two-out single to Will Wagner, who had at least one hit in each of his four games, giving him eight hits total.

For the first time, Wagner failed to record multiple hits in a game, as he was eliminated by a check swing in his final at-bat on Saturday.

G-5

Cubs third baseman Isaac Paredes made an error on the first pitch of the game.

A few batters later, Chicago made a mental error when it failed to execute a routine double play.

Chicago's penchant for sloppiness continued in the home half, when the Cubs, for reasons that defy logic, attempted to steal third base despite knowing that Bassitt had just walked two batters in a row and was behind when he faced Paredes.

Instead of extending the 1-0 lead, Chicago let Bassitt get away

In Friday's extra-innings victory, Chicago made two errors in the fourth inning.

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