Cubs bats cold again on crappy night at Wrigley originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The weather for Tuesday's crosstown series opener at Wrigley Field was terrible for baseball
The Cubs' ability to do much against the White Sox wasn't much better.
Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weekly Chicago Catch-Up newsletter here.
The White Sox beat the Cubs 3-1, the difference being a pair of unearned runs by the Sox in the second inning.
"Couldn't get anything going really offensively," manager David Ross said. "Tough conditions. They had a couple things go their way early on. Uphill battle after that."
Tough conditions, to be sure, but Tuesday was the fifth time in seven games the Cubs have scored only one run. They scored six Wednesday against the Braves and two against the Brewers on Sunday.
Their lone run Tuesday came on a Nico Hoerner double down the left field line, putting two runners in scoring position with two outs for Yan Gomes, who struck out — one of 12 on the night for the Cubs.
The Cubs' bullpen was rock solid on a night Drew Smyly was scratched from his start after going on the bereavement list pregame.
Scott Effross made his first career start, and Keegan Thompson, Michael Rucker, Mychal Givens and Chris Martin followed. They allowed a combined one earned run and seven hits in nine innings.
"The whole group threw really nice, gave us a chance to win," Ross said of the bullpen.
But the story remains a Cubs lineup that, over the current 3-10 stretch, has scored three or fewer runs 10 times — with one of the few exceptions being a 21-run outburst against the Pirates.
It's an ongoing issue and will continue to be until Nick Madrigal, Frank Schwindel, Seiya Suzuki and others get back on track.
Click here to follow the Cubs Talk Podcast.
