At long last, the Cubs’ losing streak has ended.
Thirteen days since their last win on Aug. 4, the Cubs finally got enough pitching — thanks to Kyle Hendricks — and Ian Happ hit a home run during a three-hit performance as the Cubs beat the Reds 2-1 Tuesday to end another double-digit losing streak.
“That felt really good,” manager David Ross said. “The guys played a great ballgame, a clean ballgame. Got great pitching, timely hitting."
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Until Tuesday, it wasn’t pretty. The Cubs lost 12 straight games against the Rockies, White Sox, Brewers, Marlins and Reds.
Here’s a look inside the numbers of the losing streak.
2 — The Cubs have gone on two losing streaks of 11 or more games this season, the first time that's happened in franchise history. Before the 12-game skid, they lost 11 straight games from June 25 to July 6, shifting them from buyers to sellers at the trade deadline.
There is only one other instance in Cubs history where they went on two double-digit losing streaks in the same season, when it happened in 1954.
5 — The 12-game skid is tied for fifth-longest in franchise history, along with a 12-gamer from May 2012. That skid came a month before Anthony Rizzo made his Cubs debut. The 2012 Cubs finished 61-101 in the first season of the Theo Epstein-Jed Hoyer regime.
4.83 — The Cubs’ average margin of defeat during the skid. They were outscored 101-43 in the 12 games.
4 — The Cubs gave up 10 or more runs four times during the losing streak, all four occurrences coming in the last six losses. They allowed 10 and 17 runs in separate games against the Brewers last week, and 14 to both the Marlins (last Friday) and Reds (Monday).
MLB
28 — The Brewers’ run differential in their four-game sweep of the Cubs last week. Milwaukee outscored the Cubs 37-9 at Wrigley Field, including a 10-0 shutout last Wednesday.
7 — The Cubs went 0-7 on their homestand last week, getting swept by the White Sox and Brewers. It was their first winless homestand of seven or more games in 78 years. From Sept. 3-11, 1943, they lost to the Pirates (three games), Reds (two) and Cardinals (two).
8.28 — The Cubs’ team ERA in the 12 losses. They had the second-worst ERA in baseball from Aug. 5-16, ahead of the Orioles (9.10).
3 — The Cubs moved on from three established pitchers when the losing streak was intact. They designated Kyle Ryan and Dan Winkler for assignment and released Jake Arrieta.
1 — Kyle Hendricks took the loss last Thursday against the Brewers — his only loss in his last 18 starts, including Tuesday’s outing, his 14th win of the season. He’s 12-1 dating back to May 16.
1.213 – Frank Schwindel’s OPS during the losing streak. Schwindel, who joined the roster after the Cubs’ trade deadline roster purge, was one of the few bright spots during the skid. The first baseman has been the hottest hitter on the team.
Schwindel slashed .395/.422/.791 in the 12 losses, hitting four home runs with 13 RBIs.
Who needs Bryzzo, right?