Missed opportunities sink Cubs as skid reaches 6 games

CHICAGO -- Before Friday’s game, Cubs manager Craig Counsell pointed to one thing that has hurt Chicago most during its recent offensive struggles.

“When you do have runners on base, you can’t give up an at-bat,” Counsell said.

A few hours later, the Cubs did exactly that.

Chicago repeatedly threatened but failed to deliver in key moments during a 4-2 loss to the Astros at Wrigley Field, finishing 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranding 11 runners while dropping its sixth consecutive game.

The defining moment came in the third inning. Trailing 1-0, the Cubs loaded the bases with nobody out after drawing a walk and getting hit by two pitches. But Astros starter Spencer Arrighetti escaped untouched, striking out Ian Happ with a 76.8 mph curveball before Seiya Suzuki popped out and Michael Conforto grounded out to end the inning.

The missed opportunity brought loud boos from the Wrigley Field crowd and continued a brutal recent stretch for Chicago’s offense, which has now scored just seven runs over its past four games.

Houston added on steadily from there.

Jameson Taillon lasted 4 2/3 innings for Chicago, allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out five.

The Cubs finally broke through in the sixth inning when Pete Crow-Armstrong launched a two-run homer into right field, snapping Chicago’s 15-inning scoreless drought. The line-drive blast traveled a Statcast-projected 406 feet and left his bat at 104.7 mph.

But Houston’s bullpen handled the rest, and the Cubs were left frustrated once again after another afternoon filled with missed chances offensively.