Cubs’ Alex Bregman issues sobering evaluation after crushing Game 1 loss to Padres appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Alex Bregman was hit in the face with a foul ball on Sept. 20, and a week and a half later, the star third baseman and the Chicago Cubs got punched in the gut. Over and over again. The National League Central ballclub could not find its bearings in Petco Park on Tuesday night, and it ultimately suffered an 8-0 loss versus the San Diego Padres in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series. Bregman, who has shown incredible toughness by returning from eight facial fractures, did not thin words after the awful showing.
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“We didn’t do really anything right today,” the two-time World Series champion told reporters, per the Marquee Sports Network. “The good news is we get to show up tomorrow and play a baseball game. Just got to execute better in all phases.”
Bregman and presumptive NL MVP Pete Crow-Armstrong are two of the biggest reasons why the Cubs ranked first in OPS and slugging percentage during the regular season, but they were a combined 0-for-7 with six strikeouts. Chicago mustered a measly three hits, and two of them came from Nico Hoerner’s bat. Starter Matthew Boyd surrendered home runs to Padres stars Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado in the first inning and didn’t make it to the fifth.
Reliever Javier Assad allowed two runs, and another scored on a Carson Kelly passed ball. It was a complete disaster in San Diego, and now the Cubs are on the brink of elimination.
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Fans were reeling after tasting defeat at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers last year, but a Wild Card exit would send a monsoon of condemnation toward Jed Hoyer, Craig Counsell and an expensive roster that is supposed to put up a better fight. Or any fight at all.
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Alex Bregman is one of several players who will need to level up on Wednesday. Chicago paid him $175 million to make a difference in the playoffs. He has the big-game experience and skills to validate management’s faith. The former Silver Slugger and Gold Glove winner is surely in pain given what he recently endured, but the soundbite above perfectly says it all.
“We are getting to play a baseball game tomorrow.” Bregman has perspective, and the Cubs will need to share that mindset if they are going to tie this series.
Related: 3 Cubs most to blame for brutal no-show in Game 1 loss to Padres
Related: Cubs’ Craig Counsell makes quick decision on Game 2 starter vs. Padres
