There are always plenty of ugly sights when a team hits the skids. But there was one encouraging sign after the Cubs lost their fifth game in a row Friday.
Leadoff hitter Brian McRae and shortstop Shawon Dunston sat on the bench for 10 minutes after the last out talking about hitting.
“He was just helping me with a few things,” said Dunston, who had a rare oh-fer day, going 0 for 4. “They pitch me a little differently and we were talking about how to handle it.”
Dunston leads the regulars with a .328 average. McRae has a 12-game hitting streak, going 17 for his last 50 (.340).
Legging it out: Switch-hitter Kevin Roberson, who started the last two games in left field, was taken out after the fifth inning with tightness in his right calf. He said the injury was minor and he thought he would be available to pinch-hit Saturday.
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Streaking: Colorado’s Dante Bichette went 3 for 5 to extend the National League’s longest current hitting streak to 15 games. Bichette doubled in the game-winning run in the 10th inning–the fourth game in row he has doubled.
Streaking too: Rey Sanchez singled and set up the only Cubs run with a nice sacrifice. He has a career-high 10-game hitting streak and is batting .302.
Struggling: Howard Johnson replaced Roberson in left field in the top of the sixth inning and walked and struck out in his only two plate appearances. He is 0 for his last 17 and is batting .111.
Struggling too: Catcher Rick Wilkins went 0 for 4 with two more strikeouts. Wilkins, hitting .197, leads the team with 37 strikeouts in 117 at-bats.