Who wore it better — Stephen Colbert or Theo Epstein?
A day after Epstein sported what turned out to be a very bad disguise during Friday afternoon’s game, the late-night host dressed up as a hot dog vendor called “Donny Franks” before the Cubs’ 11-3 loss on Saturday. He could be seen selling a hot dog to manager Joe Maddon, doing a bit with Anthony Rizzo in the dugout and throwing out a first pitch before the game.
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Colbert, a Northwestern (maybe he made the trip up to Evanston for Saturday night’s matchup with Duke?), iO Theater and Second City alum, is a Cubs fan, and has supported the team on his show in the past.
Last season, after the Cubs beat the Pirates in the NL wild card, Colbert went on a playful rant, declaring they’d win the 2o15 World Series, calling them the “G.O.A.T.,” or greatest of all time. This season Colbert hosted Cubs All-Stars Jake Arrieta, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo during the break, rubbing them for good luck as they stared at him disapprovingly in his cold open.
But the fun and games ended quickly for the Cubs, who were crushed by the Brewers with Arrieta on the mound. The Cubs celebrated their NL Central title on Friday, and Maddon put out a similar lineup Saturday, with no everyday starter playing at his normal position. Bryant manned first base, joined by Munenori Kawasaki, Javier Baez and Tommy La Stella in the infield.
Willson Contreras caught Arrieta for the fifrth time (in a start) this season, with Contreras behind the plate for a couple of Arrieta’s worst starts of late, including an Aug. 29 8-7 win over the Pirates in which Arrieta gave up six earned runs, a season-high. But Saturday, Arrieta was better, giving up three earned runs on four hits over six innings.
Maddon on Arrieta: "If we could get him to get better command of his fastball in the next two starts, everything will play off that." #Cubs
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) September 17, 2016
It wasn’t until the bullpen took over that the Brewers ran up the score. Perhaps most surprising was Carl Edwards Jr.’s issues, as he allowed three runs on a double and two home runs in the eighth inning. It was the first time Edwards had given up a home run since his season debut on June 22 against the Cardinals. He struggled against St. Louis again on Aug. 13, when he gave up five earned runs, throwing a wild pitch and issuing four walks.
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One of the home runs Edwards surrendered in the eighth was to Ryan Braun, who had two on the day (the other off Arrieta in the sixth). They were his fifth and sixth homers hit against the Cubs this season, more than any other opponent. In the ninth inning, reliever Spencer Patton gave up a grand slam to Chris Carter to seal it for the Brewers.
Offensively, the Cubs scored all three of their runs in the first inning, when Tommy La Stella led it off with a single, Bryant followed with a triple, and Chris Coghlan hit a two-run homer. The Cubs went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position, matching the Brewers in the hit column with eight, but just weren’t able to convert those hits into runs.
The Cubs won’t dwell on this loss, and Maddon said there’d be more usual starters in the lineup for the series finale Sunday as he gives everyone some rest here and there before the playoffs.