Cubs take accountability for slump, but bats stay cold against Rockies

DENVER -- Pete Crow-Armstrong was not in much of a mood to talk about any personal accolades sent his way on Tuesday afternoon -- not when the Cubs as a team are trying to pull out of a persistent cold spell.

Standing at his temporary locker at Coors Field, Crow-Armstrong kept his hood up and mostly brushed off questions about being named the National League’s Player of the Week for his string of impressive recent hits. The Cubs’ center fielder instead pointed to plenty of other moments where he did not deliver.

“Realistically, I would’ve liked to come through in some different spots,” Crow-Armstrong said. “I don’t really feel very good about the week that we’ve had. So, the recognition is cool, but I’m just looking to put this behind me and start winning some ballgames again.”

The turnaround Cubs fans are waiting for did not arrive Tuesday night, when the Rockies dealt the North Siders a 7-3 loss to begin this six-game swing through Denver and San Francisco. And while Colin Rea allowing all seven runs in the first three frames put Chicago in a quick hole, the spotlight remained focused on the offense.

There were a few promising moments -- Dansby Swanson leading off the third with a double or Michael Busch launching a leadoff homer in the sixth -- but overall it was another evening of missed chances. Two of the three runs scored did so without a hit involved. Alex Bregman had a sacrifice fly in the third and Seiya Suzuki brought in one with a groundout in the sixth. The Cubs finished 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

The Cubs are now 7-21 with 3.3 runs scored per game dating back to May 9 after averaging 5.5 runs in their 27-12 start to the season. Chicago is at risk of slipping to a .500 record for the first time since April 16 (9-9).

“We have an accountable group. They understand what their job is,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “They know what we haven’t been doing. We can talk about it a lot, but we also understand that we’ve got to go play, play the game and play it well. That’s, ultimately, how you change the story. That’s the only way to change the story.”

One of the players who has stepped up in terms of accountability has been Bregman.

Bregman had two singles Tuesday, marking his first multi-hit game since May 27. His sac fly was only his second RBI in June, and neither have come via hit. His last RBI involving a hit was courtesy of a homer on May 31 in St. Louis. Bregman ended May batting .304 over an 11-game hitting streak, but headed into Tuesday hitting just .083 (2-for-24) in June with an 0-for-11 showing with runners in scoring position.

Following Sunday’s frustrating loss to the Giants at Wrigley Field, Bregman held court with reporters and shouldered a lot of the load for the team-wide struggles. That did not come as a shock to Crow-Armstrong, but the center fielder would not accept that Bregman is the source of all that has ailed the Cubs offensively.

“It’s not surprising that he’d go out and say that, but it’s on all of us,” Crow-Armstrong said. “I mean, nothing’s really been good about the last few weeks. I don’t think we’ve won a series in nine of them. That’s not on Alex Bregman alone. It’s on all of us.”

Crow-Armstrong was correct, too. The Cubs have not won the past nine series dating back to May 8 – all since the 20-3 run across April and May. Now, Chicago has to win the next two games in Coors Field to pull off a series win.

“We know the type of group that we have,” Busch said. “So, there’s a ton of confidence still in everybody. … It’s been pretty frustrating. I feel like myself, and I know there’s a lot of other guys, who just feel like we could be doing more.”

That was certainly the sentiment Crow-Armstrong delivered prior to Tuesday’s loss, even after his wildly productive week.

“We’re making some mistakes right now that can’t happen, and that we normally don’t make,” Crow-Armstrong said. “It’s just understanding how the game of baseball works. And understanding that you’re not going to be a one-man wrecking crew.”

Counsell said the only real remedy right now is for the players to keep focusing on their daily work, trusting that their diligence and preparation will pay off when the page is turned to the next day.

“There’s a lot of season in front of us,” Counsell said, “and a lot of good things can be in front of us. That’s still how you have to show up every day. That’s still what I believe.”