The Cubs Are 13 Losses in 16 Games Deep and Nobody in Chicago Has an Answer

WHAT A NIGHT, 12s! While our Mariners were busy crushing the Mets 8-3 at home, showing that T-Mobile Park magic, things were looking a whole lot different down in Chicago. The Cubs, man, they're in a full-blown tailspin, taking their 13th loss in just their last 16 games after falling 2-1 to the Athletics. Seriously, you gotta see what went down at Wrigley, because this slump is getting gnarly, and it feels like they have no idea how to stop it.

Rookie Gage Jump Fires, A's Scrap Out a Win

So, the A's might not be lighting the world on fire, but they snagged a big one. It was only their third win in their last ten games, which tells you a bit about where *they're* at. But honestly, the story for them last night was all about rookie pitcher Gage Jump. This kid was dealing in just his second big league start, throwing seven stellar innings. He gave up just one run and three hits, and get this, he retired the final 14 batters he faced in an 85-pitch effort. That's a serious shutdown performance! Jump finished with five strikeouts and one walk, moving his record to 1-1. The A's offense scrapped for their two runs. Nick Kurtz launched a two-out, 0-1 sweeper from Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon over the wall in left-center in the third to tie it up 1-1. Then in the fourth, Brent Rooker and Henry Bolte hit back-to-back one-out singles, setting the table for Zack Gelof. Gelof then lined a single up the middle, right over Chicago second baseman Nico Hoerner's leap, to score Rooker and grab that decisive 2-1 lead. Talk about timely hitting!

Chicago's Slump Deepens, Taillon's Homer Woes Continue

But let's be real, this story is mostly about the Cubs' brutal slide. Thirteen losses in 16 games. Oof. Jameson Taillon, their starter, took the loss, dropping his record to 2-5. He gave up those two runs and six hits over 6 1/3 innings, striking out six and walking one. The real killer for him? He's now coughed up nine homers over his past four outings. That's just not gonna cut it. The Cubs' only run came in the first inning. Hoerner singled, Pete Crow-Armstrong singled and stole second, then Alex Bregman's infield grounder scored Hoerner. But even that mini-rally got shut down quick when A's catcher Shea Langeliers gunned out Crow-Armstrong trying to steal third! Langeliers wasn't done, either, later throwing out Kevin Alcantara trying to steal second in the second inning. Small wins for the A's, big frustrations for the Cubbies. Things got spicy in the ninth when A's reliever Scott Barlow ran into trouble, walking Hoerner and giving up a single to Crow-Armstrong. After striking out Alex Bregman and retiring Seiya Suzuki, Barlow got pulled. Left-hander Hogan Harris came in, forcing switch-hitting Happ to bat right-handed, and Harris delivered, getting Happ to fly out to center to seal his fifth save. Close call, but the A's hung on. So while the Cubs are trying to figure out how to stop the bleeding, our Mariners are out here putting on a show, just like we saw against the Mets. That 8-3 win felt GOOD, and it's that kind of electric play we're looking forward to every single night at T-Mobile Park. Keep that green and blue fire burning, Seattle! Go M's!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.