Matt Cain took some genuinely good vibes to the mound Tuesday night at China Basin. Really. He had pitched well in his previous start, six strong innings August 19 in St. Louis. Maybe he was close to becoming his old, reliable self.
To which the Cubs soon replied: Not so fast, pal.
Cain’s spot in the starting rotation looks precarious again after Chicago’s 8-5 victory. The Cubs launched three home runs and leaned on ace Jake Arrieta to stay smoking hot, with 21 wins in their past 25 games. They improved to 34-25 away from Wrigley Field, the best road record in the majors.