ST. LOUIS — Manager David Ross almost always keeps a straight face through his postgame interviews. But after the Cubs’ 3-2 victory against the Cardinals on Friday ended with a game-saving catch by center fielder Mike Tauchman, a smile kept breaking through.
“We don’t win that game early in the season,” Ross said.
His assessment rang true. Look at the Cubs’ first 16 games decided by two runs or fewer. They lost all but two. And their one-run victory against the Cards contained moments that could have spun out of control. But after falling behind 2-0 on two home runs by Lars Nootbaar in the first three innings, the Cubs willed themselves to a win.
“We’ve had some games we’ve probably played better earlier in the year that we lost,” second baseman Nico Hoerner said. “And a lot of things we could have done better. But at the end of the day, we won. And in this league, that result matters a lot.”
With their victory Friday, the Cubs improved to 52-51, their first time with a winning record since May 6 (17-16). With Tuesday’s trade deadline rapidly approaching, every win helps their case.
The Cubs’ comeback wasn’t flashy. Patrick Wisdom hit a solo homer in the fifth inning to get them partway there. Then the next inning, the Cubs cobbled together two walks, a hit-by-pitch, a Seiya Suzuki double, an opposite-field sacrifice fly from Dansby Swanson and a go-ahead RBI single by Trey Mancini.
“Guys taking some walks and not expanding and not trying to drive everybody in [with the] bases loaded,” Ross said. “Really patient at-bat there from Trey.”
Patient at-bats have been a recent theme for the Cubs’ surging offense. Mancini watching three consecutive balls before poking a 3-1 pitch into left field with the bases loaded was a perfect example of their successful team approach.
“Right now we’re playing really good defense, and our offense is hitting on all cylinders, and they’re playing really confidently,” said Drew Smyly, who held the Cardinals to one run in 4⅓ innings.
“And on the pitching side of it, it’s just our job to keep us in the game and give our hitters a chance to take the lead, just like they did [Friday].”
When Hoerner called Tauchman’s catch, which robbed Alec Burleson of a walk-off home run and secured the final out, “the most dramatic single play I’ve been a part of in the big leagues,” he was looking at the broader picture.
“I’m sure there’s some other stuff,” he said, “but as far as just the game and where we’re at in the season, obviously pretty big implications.”
Roster moves
The Cubs activated infielder Nick Madrigal (strained right hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Saturday and optioned infielder Miles Mastrobuoni to Triple-A Iowa.
Madrigal, who was on a hot streak at the plate before he hurt his hamstring about four weeks ago chasing down a foul ball, was in the starting lineup. He played third base and batted ninth.
It was the fourth time this season that the Cubs have optioned Mastrobuoni. In this latest stint, he hit .324 and had four stolen bases and a home run.
“Sometimes there’s just an odd man out in roster construction and moves and things,” Ross said. “Did a really nice job. He’ll be back and help us win a lot of games.”
Players only can be optioned five times in a season. After that, they have to be put on outright waivers to be sent down to the minor leagues.
