Cubs Fall to Giants 18-3 as Cabrera Returns from Injury with Velocity but Poor Command

The Chicago Cubs endured a lopsided 18-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field, with returning starter Edward Cabrera posting strong velocity but faltering due to command issues and home run trouble. The Giants connected for seven home runs, including a grand slam and multiple two-run shots, in one of their most dominant offensive performances of the season.

Cabrera's Return: Promise and Pitfalls

Cabrera took the mound for the Cubs after spending time on the 15-day injured list due to a blister on his right middle finger, a recurring issue that sidelined him since May 21. Manager Craig Counsell had expressed optimism about the rest period potentially providing Cabrera with renewed strength heading into the final months of the season.

The pitcher's stuff appeared sharper initially. Over the first three innings, Cabrera collected five strikeouts and reached fastball velocities of at least 99 miles per hour on four occasions—his highest heat since August 30 of the previous season with the Marlins. His fastball peaked at 99.5 mph. However, command proved elusive. A two-run homer by Willy Adames in the first inning foreshadowed larger problems ahead. The fourth inning proved catastrophic, when the Giants scored six runs on six hits, including a grand slam by Matt Chapman and a two-run shot by Casey Schmitt. Cabrera exited after 80 pitches in 3⅔ innings.

"The stuff, I thought, was probably ticked up," Counsell said. "He just made some bad pitches and they put them in the seats, essentially."

Giants' Historic Power Display

San Francisco's offensive outburst marked a remarkable stretch. The team compiled seven home runs in a single game, matching the most by any Major League team this season and the most by a Giants lineup since April 2023. Chapman contributed significantly with a grand slam in the fourth inning—later dubbed "Slam Francisco" by broadcast commentators—followed by a three-run homer later in the game, giving him eight RBIs and matching a San Francisco-era single-game record. Adames added two long balls, while Schmitt hit two homers of his own. The Giants also received home runs from reserve hitter Jonah Cox and position player Carson Kelly, rounding out a seven-run sixth inning that essentially decided the contest.

Cabrera acknowledged the disappointment despite personal improvements. "For me personally, it bothers me, because I'm a competitive person that doesn't like to lose," he said through an interpreter. "That time off helped me be able to get stronger. The [overall] result was bad, but it was the first time since last year that I touched 100."