The Cubs have lost their karma and they’re desperately seeking a new supply.
Remember all those sharp grounders that were finding holes? Now they result in double plays.
Their home runs are solo jobs. Pitching changes backfire. And their losses mount.
Despite falling 5-2 to St. Louis on Saturday, the Cubs still lead the National League Central.
But the Cardinals can overtake them Sunday by beating starter Kerry Wood.
“It’s tough to win when you’re getting six hits and four of them are infield singles,” Cubs first baseman Matt Stairs said.
Stairs wasn’t exaggerating. His fifth-inning homer and Bill Mueller’s opposite-field double were the Cubs’ only extra-base hits Saturday.
The Cubs have scored just 12 runs in their last five games, four of which have been losses, including the last three in a row.
And they’ve lost a stunning 10 straight at Busch Stadium.
“Guys are trying a little too hard,” manager Don Baylor said. “Everybody wants to be the guy who knocks in that run.”
The Cubs put runners aboard against right-hander Matt Morris in the first, second and fourth innings, but they grounded into double plays all three times, twice by Rondell White.
“I might need to get it more airborne,” White said.
The Cardinals managed 11 hits off Jon Lieber in six innings, but Lieber escaped after allowing three runs.
Lefty reliever Jeff Fassero survived a shaky seventh and retired the first two Cardinals in the eighth. With the Cubs trailing 3-2, Baylor called on right-hander Kyle Farnsworth to face Albert Pujols, a sweet-swinging rookie who entered the game hitting .395 against righties and .262 versus lefties.
Pujols crushed a 99-m.p.h fastball deep into the left-field seats. J.D. Drew followed that with a 417-foot bomb to center.
“I know the numbers,” Baylor said of Pujols. “I’d put Kyle Farnsworth in that situation again tomorrow.”
With the Cubs clinging to a half-game lead in the division, every situation will be vital Sunday.
“The positive thing is we’re still in first place and our offense hasn’t kicked in yet,” Stairs said.
