3 key matchups from a series finale that just slipped away

CHICAGO – The Cubs badly need the kind of long winning streak that has proved elusive for the ballclub all season. On Sunday afternoon, Chicago had a chance to complete a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays, taking a step in that direction in its quest to defy the odds and climb more firmly into the National League Wild Card picture.

In blustery conditions at Wrigley Field, the Cubs were dealt a 1-0 loss by Toronto, leaving the North Siders with a series win, but not the beginning of a prolonged streak. Lefty Shota Imanaga was solid enough, but one home run proved the difference in Chicago’s MLB-high 26th one-run loss of the season.

“This was an opportunity, for sure,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “We pitched well, but it takes all phases. To put together the streaks, you've got to deliver in all phases. And we just weren't able to deliver offensively today.”

Here are three key aspects within Sunday’s defeat for the Cubs.

1. Shota vs. Loperfido

With the wind howling in from left and center field, the chances of launching a home run out in that direction were miniscule on Sunday. A deep fly to right field would have a chance, given that the cross-wind was blowing in that direction.

Blue Jays center fielder Joey Loperfido found the jet stream in the second inning.

“You had to hit a ball really good today to hit it out,” Counsell said. “Give him credit, he hit a ball really good.”

Imanaga fired an errant sweeper high and tight in a 1-1 count that forced Loperfido to turn and hustle out of the way. For the next offering, the Cubs' lefty went with a heater inside and well above the zone, but the Toronto rookie was ready for it.

“I was just trying to work above it,” Loperfido said. “That one was pretty high, but I was just exaggerating the feeling of working above the baseball. I kind of let his velocity and his vertical fastball give the power to it.”

Loperfido’s shot sailed into the right-field bleachers and held up as the decisive moment in the game, plus the lone blemish in Imanaga’s five innings.

“That pitch, if it was in the zone, maybe I’d be a little more frustrated,” Imanaga said via interpreter Edwin Stanberry. “It was a ball and the approach against the hitters was, ‘Try to go up in the zone.’ So, the fact that he did hit that out, you just kind of tip your cap.”

2. The Cubs vs. Francis

On the other side of the spectrum, Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya smashed a pitch from Blue Jays starter Bowden Francis deep to left-center in the third inning that looked destined for the bleachers. The wind knocked it down, leading to a flyout that served as a summation for how things went for Chicago’s offense.

“It can be some tough elements here at times to play in,” Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson said. “It was giving everybody fits, even on regular fly balls today. But that’s how the game goes. You've got to figure out a way to make something happen in a different fashion. We just weren't able to do it today.”

The Cubs had no leadoff hitters reach in the loss and finished 0-for-6 in the few opportunities they had with runners in scoring position. Francis, who leaned on a fastball-splitter combination, ended with seven shutout innings in which he racked up seven strikeouts, issued no walks and allowed just three hits.

“I feel like he was able to gain some confidence early,” Swanson said, “and just kind of rolled with it.”

3. Cubs’ bullpen vs. fatigue

One day after the Cubs’ bullpen was tasked with logging seven innings, the Blue Jays opened Sunday’s game by forcing Imanaga to toil through 31 pitches in the first inning. That necessitated Counsell turning to the taxed relief corps for the final four frames.

Once again, the ‘pen was up to the task.

“Our bullpen did a heck of a job putting up some zeros,” Counsell said, “to keep giving the offense a chance.”

Heading into the day, the Cubs’ bullpen led the Majors in ERA (2.15) dating back to July 1. On Sunday, righties Julian Merryweather, Ethan Roberts and Héctor Neris combined for four more shutout innings to continue that trend.

“They’ve been awesome no matter who it is, no matter what the situation,” Swanson said. “It feels like they're coming in with confidence. They're coming in prepared and making good pitches over and over and over again.”