Cubs Observations: Trevor Williams' Start Short in Loss to Tigers

Observations: Williams’ start short in loss to Tigers originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

The Cubs lost 9-8 in extra innings at Detroit, evening the series to 1-1. The Cubs fell to two games below .500, with a 5-12 road record.

Eight of the Cubs’ last nine games have been decided by one run.

1. Neither starting pitcher made it through the third inning. Cubs righthander Trevor Williams allowed three runs in the first inning and managed to get out of the second without adding to the damage. But he issued a two-out walk and gave up a single to prolong the inning.
2. Tigers pitcher José Ureña made it deeper into the game than Williams, leaving with two outs in the third. Ureña took a line drive off the ankle in the second inning but stayed in to throw a one-two-three inning.
3. First baseman Anthony Rizzo drove in the Cubs’ first three runs of the game. In the first inning, his two-run double gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead. In the third inning, Rizzo grounded out to second, allowing Kris Bryant to score.
4. Cubs third baseman Matt Duffy came up with three go-ahead hits in the game. In the third inning, his RBI double gave the Cubs a 4-3 lead. His first home run as a Cub was a three-run shot in the fifth inning, and the Cubs took a 7-6 lead. Duffy’s RBI single in the 10^th inning gave him five RBI on the day.
5. Cubs right-hander Alec Mills made his first relief appearance in 10 days. He threw a scoreless third inning but then was charged with three runs the next frame. Justin Steele replaced Mills with two outs in the fourth.
6. Cubs reliever Dan Winkler, who the team activated from the 10-day IL on Friday, made his first appearance since May 2. He pitched 2/3 of an inning and left with two runners on. Left-hander Rex Brothers came in to face Harold Castro. He struck him out, maintaining the Cubs’ lead.
7. Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera tied up the game in the seventh inning, after going 0-for-4 to start the game. Brothers had loaded the bases before handing the ball over to right-hander Ryan Tepera. Cabrera hit a ground ball up the middle, and Cubs second baseman Eric Sogard made a diving stop, but a run still scored.
8. After rookie right-hander Keegan Thompson struck out the side in the eighth inning, Ross stuck with him in the ninth in a tie ballgame. Thompson delivered another scoreless inning.
9. The Cubs used eight pitchers in the game, each of whom allowed at least one hit. The Tigers tied up the game against closer Craig Kimbrel in the 10^th inning, before Harold Castro’s walk-off single sealed the game.
10. Cubs center fielder Ian Happ (left rib contusion) returned from the 10-day injured list Saturday.

On deck: The Cubs play the third and final game of the series Sunday, closing the road trip. Cubs right-hander takes the bump against Tigers lefty Matthew Boyd.