'We had to win': Tauchman delivers again to help Cubs win set

CHICAGO -- The Cardinals may have thought they had seen the last of Mike Tauchman this series. That changed shortly before game time on Sunday, when the outfielder was inserted into the lineup in place of left fielder Ian Happ.

In his first action for the Cubs since Thursday night’s walk-off heroics, Tauchman delivered a pair of key hits -- including a leadoff homer in the sixth inning -- to help guide Chicago to a 6-2 win at Wrigley Field. The victory also secured a series win for the Cubs in this four-game set against their rivals.

“We had to win,” Tauchman said. “We've got to play our best baseball. We've got stack wins and we've got to win series. I think everybody knows the stakes in here. Really good performance all around. Good team win.”

The victory was not just the third in four games against St. Louis, but gave the Cubs a 16-11 showing dating back to July 4. That includes a 5-3 ledger against the Cardinals, a series win on the road against the Royals and a sweep over the Orioles in Baltimore.

It has been a better stretch of baseball from a Cubs team that saw its offensive issues drag the club down the National League Central across May and June. Even with the recent improvement in results, the Cubs sit 8 1/2 games back of the division-leading Brewers and six games behind the NL Wild Card pace. Fangraphs gave Chicago 7% odds of making the playoffs.

“It’s been a tough season,” said Cubs lefty Justin Steele, who tossed a quality start in the win. “Things haven’t gone our way every single time, but I think the consistency with the attitude … the consistency of how we show up each and every single day is kind of what’s carrying us right now.”

Steele felt Tauchman was a great example along those lines.

“He shows up every single day, same attitude, same person,” Steele said. “You know what you're going to get every single day with his at-bats, his defense, the player he is. I think that’s one of the best compliments you can give somebody, is how consistent they are.”

Happ was scratched from Sunday’s game due to left shoulder discomfort, stemming from his crash into the bricks and ivy in left-center field on a leaping catch attempt in the ninth inning of Saturday’s loss.

That cleared the way for Tauchman, whose pinch-hit RBI double off closer Ryan Helsley authored a 5-4 comeback win on Thursday. For the past two games, Tauchman resided on manager Craig Counsell’s bench. In other parts of this season, the outfielder has filled in as a part-time starter either for injured players or to spell the regulars.

“You just stay ready,” Tauchman said. “When I get to the field, there's things that I want to get done that day to try to put me in a position to be successful. And whether you're in the lineup, whether you're not in the lineup, that doesn't change.”

Cardinals fans also remember Tauchman all too well for his defensive gem on July 28 last season. Alec Burleson looked to have a walk-off homer in St. Louis, but Tauchman ranged back and made a jumping catch to pull the deep fly back in for a game-ending, “walk-off” robbery.

Counsell likes having a player of Tauchman’s caliber in reserve.

“This is back to kind of a healthier position-player unit,” Counsell said. “Something pops up, and we feel like we're putting a really good bat in the lineup. And that's depth, right? And Tauch stepped in today and had a great day.”

With the Cubs trailing 2-0 in the fourth on Sunday, Tauchman sent a pitch from Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas bouncing up the third-base line and into left field for a double that helped spark a two-run inning. In the sixth, Tauchman homered to left-center field for his sixth shot of the season.

As Tauchman rounded third, he faced his teammates and spread his arms wide in celebration. It was the same motion he made at second base after his walk-off three nights earlier.

“It kind of happened organically a couple times earlier this year,” Tauchman said. “The guys seemed to kind of like it. So, it’s like, all right, we’ll lean into it.”

Tauchman plans on continuing to lean into whatever is asked of him.

“I want to win with this group. I believe in this group,” he said. “So, whatever role that ends up being just is what it is.”