The Cubs know their offense isn’t going to be lights-out all the time.
Manager Craig Counsell even said before Sunday’s game that teams can run into hot pitchers or go into a slump.
One game doesn’t qualify as a slump, but the Cubs were only able to scratch out four hits in a 3-2, 11-inning loss to Arizona in front of a Wrigley Field crowd of 29,062.
“It was just a quiet offensive day,” Counsell said. “We only had four hits, and one was a check swing hit and two were off the infielder’s glove.
“We didn’t really create offense. It was a tough day for both offenses.”
Josh Naylor’s 11th-inning single to right field off Jordan Wicks (0-1) brought home Geraldo Perdomo for what turned out to be the winning run.
It was the fourth time this season the Cubs (14-10) were in a position to sweep, but they have only finished the job once.
They swept the Athletics in West Sacramento in three games, but after winning the first two games in three-game sets with the San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers at Wrigley Field, they were able to complete the task in the finales.
The Cubs, who entered the game with a major-league-best 143 runs, struck early as Michael Busch singled home Ian Happ in the first inning.
After that, however, the Cubs could only muster one baserunner in the next six innings — a Busch walk in the seventh. Nico Hoerner singled in the ghost runner in the 10th.
Despite a 59-minute rain delay in the first inning, Cubs starter Jameson Taillon stayed loose and returned to the game. He finished with an effective five innings, allowing one run on three hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
Here are three takeaways from this wild series.
1. Third base is still in flux.
The classic Abbott and Costello baseball comedy skit “Who’s on First?” features a fictitious lineup of players with funny names and “I Don’t Know” is playing third base.
Ask folks around the Cubs who is playing third and “I don’t know” is the likely answer.
Hot prospect Matt Shaw has the most games at that position with eight starts but he was optioned to the minors on Tuesday.
Rule 5 draftee Gage Workman, veteran Jon Berti, Vidal Bruján and veteran Justin Turner have each made starts there and no one has been given the keys to the kingdom yet.
It’s going to be a work in progress, which is tough on any player in a position that usually requires consistent playing time.
Photos: Chicago Cubs lose to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 11 innings
“We have to make a decision, and you will see multiple guys there at this point,” Counsell said. “If someone can take control of it or get more opportunities, we’ll see how that plays out.
“We’re going to kind of use each guy’s skill set to our advantage and let them show us what that means in terms of playing time.”
Berti did himself a few favors on Sunday, making some strong plays on defense and reaching second base with a single and an error in the eighth inning. But he was also doubled off at second base in the 11th inning.
2. Ben Brown is going to walk hitters.
Pitcher Ben Brown walked four batters in four innings during his 100-pitch outing on Saturday.
On the positive side, he struck out six Diamondbacks and only allowed one run.
Counsell doesn’t like the walks but knows that could happen with the way Brown fishes for swing-and-miss strikes.
“Ben can get swings out of the strike zone as well as anybody that we have,” Counsell said. “But you are going to get less against (Arizona hitters). They are going to make you earn every out. Ben struggled with that a little bit.
“He made pitches when he had to. He got punched in the face in the first inning and was a little wobbly but he got better and kept runs off the board the next three innings.”
Brown has been pitching with this strategy for a while and knows it can sometimes lead to free passes — especially against a disciplined offense such as Arizona.
“They have a lot of great hitters,” Brown said. “They definitely don’t make it easy. I didn’t make it easy on myself. I made some silly mistakes.
“Ultimately, walks are going to be a part of my game. I try to get them to swing-and-miss and chase. That’s how I do things and there are going to be walks.”
3. The bullpen is still going to drive Cubs fans crazy.
No roller coaster is going to be as wild as watching the Cubs bullpen in action.
This series saw the best and worst of the ’pen. On Friday, it gave up 10 runs in 4 1/3 innings in a 13-11 win. On Saturday, it surrendered one run in five innings in a 6-1 win.
Sunday may have ended in a loss, but the relievers did not allow an earned run in six innings, as the run in the 11th was unearned because of the ghost runner rule that puts a runner at second in extra innings.
Things could have been worse, but Arizona’s burly designated hitter Josh Naylor tried to steal home with two outs in the 11th. Wicks threw him out on a close play that was reviewed and confirmed.
“The relievers all did a nice job,” Counsell said.
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
