Albert Almora Jr.’s two-out homer in the ninth inning Thursday, his first extra-base hit of 2019, would have meant a lot more if:
- The Cubs could have cashed in on four opportunities earlier in the game with RISP, or
- Cubs relievers could have thrown strikes in the eighth inning.
- Or, both.
Instead, all it did was make this a frustrating one-run loss instead of a two-run loss, 2-1 to the Dodgers.
There were some good things that happened in this game, though, and the first was a solid five-inning outing from Jon Lester, his first since April 8.