Cubs Lose to Rays as Pitching Struggles Continue

Tampa Bay hits three home runs to defeat Chicago in series opener

Apr. 7, 2026 at 12:13am

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A fragmented, geometric painting in bold colors depicting various baseball actions and players in an abstract, cubist style.A cubist interpretation of the Cubs-Rays matchup captures the fractured, high-energy nature of the game's key moments.Chicago Today

The Chicago Cubs' recent pitching woes continued as they lost 6-4 to the Tampa Bay Rays in the first game of their series on Monday. The Cubs jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but the Rays responded with three home runs, including a decisive two-run shot in the 7th inning, to secure the victory.

Why it matters

The Cubs have been dealing with key pitching injuries, and their inability to limit home runs has been a recurring issue this season. This loss drops them further behind in the standings, putting more pressure on the offense to step up and support the depleted pitching staff.

The details

The Cubs took a 2-0 lead in the 2nd inning after Rays starter Shane McClanahan walked the bases loaded and Nico Hoerner hit a two-run single. However, the Rays quickly answered in the bottom half of the inning, with Cedric Mullins hitting a two-run homer and a Dansby Swanson throwing error bringing in the go-ahead run to make it 3-2 Rays. Junior Caminero then extended the Rays' lead to 4-2 with a solo shot in the 3rd. The Cubs cut the deficit to 4-3 in the 6th on a sacrifice fly by Michael Busch, but Jonathan Aranda's two-run homer in the 7th gave the Rays some crucial insurance runs. Matt Shaw hit a solo homer in the 9th for the Cubs, but it wasn't enough as they fell 6-4.

  • The game was played on Monday, April 6, 2026.
  • The Rays scored three runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning.
  • The Rays added another run in the bottom of the 3rd inning.
  • The Cubs scored a run in the top of the 6th inning.
  • The Rays scored two more runs in the bottom of the 7th inning.

The players

Jameson Taillon

The Cubs starting pitcher, who gave up four runs (three earned) over six innings of work.

Nico Hoerner

The Cubs infielder who hit a two-run single in the 2nd inning to give the Cubs an early lead.

Cedric Mullins

The Rays outfielder who hit a two-run homer in the 2nd inning to tie the game.

Dansby Swanson

The Rays infielder whose throwing error in the 2nd inning allowed the go-ahead run to score for Tampa Bay.

Jonathan Aranda

The Rays infielder who hit a crucial two-run homer in the 7th inning to extend Tampa Bay's lead.

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What they’re saying

“We've got to find a way to limit the home runs. That's been a real issue for us this season, and it cost us again today.”

— David Ross, Cubs Manager

What’s next

The Cubs and Rays will play the second game of their series on Tuesday night at 5:40pm CT. Javier Assad is scheduled to start for Chicago, while Drew Rasmussen will take the mound for Tampa Bay.

The takeaway

The Cubs' pitching struggles have become a recurring problem, and their inability to limit home runs has been a major factor in their mediocre start to the season. If the offense can't pick up the slack, this season could quickly spiral downward for the North Siders.