Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (7/20/26): Tigers 8, Cubs 6 F/10 – Late Missed Opportunity Proves Costly
The Cubs and Tigers played a back-and-forth affair on Monday night at Wrigley Field that went to extra innings. The home team had an excellent chance to walk it off in the 9th inning, but came up short and faltered in the 10th to drop the game.
Detroit jumped all over returning starter Jameson Taillon, scoring four times in the top of the 1st. Riley Greene hit a three-run homer, and catcher Dillon Dingler followed with a solo shot to make it back-to-back.
Chicago responded with three runs off of Jack Flaherty in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Seiya Suzuki cracked a two-run homer, then Michael Busch matched the Tigers’ feat with a solo blast that gave them back-to-back homers that cut the deficit to 4-3.
Detroit added insurance when Dingler took Tyler Ferguson deep in the top of the 8th. Ian Happ had a huge swing in the bottom of the frame when he hit a game-tying two-run homer against Kyle Finnegan.
The North Siders got the winning run to third base with one out in the bottom of the 9th, but a pair of strikeouts stranded the bases loaded. The home squad predictably gave up three runs in the top of the 10th after missing that golden opportunity, with an uncharacteristic error by Nico Hoerner opening the floodgates. They got one back in the bottom of the inning, but it was too late as the Tigers prevailed 8-6. (Box score)
Key Moment
Alex Bregman was ahead in the count 3-0 against Kenley Jansen with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 9th. Jansen rallied back to strike out Bregman and keep Detroit alive.
Why the Cubs Lost
They fell behind early and could not get that one last big hit to get the win.
Stats That Matter
- Taillon settled down after the rough opening: 4.1 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 6 K, and 2 BB.
- Bregman had a pair of singles.
- Reliever Trent Thornton took a line drive off of his foot in the 10th inning and had to come out.
Bottom Line
That was a tough loss for the Cubs after battling back to tie it and then squandering a great chance to win. Sometimes games like that happen, and all you can do is bounce back the next day. If Taillon keeps giving up home runs like he has been, his return to the rotation might be brief.
On Deck
The two teams are at it again Tuesday night at 7:05pm CT. David Peterson goes up against fellow lefty Framber Valdez in a contest airing on Marquee with a radio feed on The Score.
