You’d think Cubs fans were used to this by now, but Chicago’s 5-3 loss to Atlanta Friday night on a Rick Ankiel three-run triple in the ninth made their jaws drop.
Of all the jaw-dropping losses this season, this one might be the jaw-droppingest.
Right after Rick Ankiel hit his bases-loaded triple with two out and two strikes in the ninth inning, I spotted Kosuke Fukudome, who had thrown the ball in, standing in front of the right-field wall on the warning track with his hands on his hips, staring into the infield as if to say, “How did I get myself into this?”
The Cubs actually played a pretty good game, getting some clutch two-out hitting for their first run and Aramis Ramirez’ 18th HR of the year (and only his third this month). The game should have been won. But in a year like this one…