It's now or never for Javier Baez and the Cubs offense. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
With their backs against the wall, the Cubs need their offense to jump to life.
In Game 1, the Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins combined to go 1-for-17 with runners in scoring position. Unfortunately, that one hit belonged to Don Mattingly’s club – and they came away with a 5-1 win that puts the North Siders in a must-win situation on Friday.
Kyle Hendricks kept Miami off the board until the seventh, when the Marlins erased the Cubs’ 1-0 deficit by hanging a five-spot on the Chicago starter and reliever Jeremy Jeffress courtesy of a pair of long balls.