No matter who starts on the mound for the Cubs, they follow a familiar and taxing script that manager Joe Maddon believes will dissolve soon.
In the case of Wednesday night's game against the Phillies, the Cubs continued their penchant for first-inning deficits.
Fortunately for the Cubs, Jake Arrieta settled down quickly and efficiently to enable his offensive teammates to rally for four runs in the sixth and hold on for a 5-4 victory over the Phillies at Wrigley Field.
Much of Maddon's lack of urgency over the first-inning woes stems from the track record of starters who played a significant role in the Cubs' run to the World Series last season.
But the championship trophy suffered a few blemishes while being paraded around Boston last weekend, and so have the ERAs of the starters.
The two early runs Arrieta allowed increased the Cubs' first-inning ERA to 11.00. They have been outscored 35-19 in the first inning, and only the late offensive surges have been able to overcome the early pitching woes.
“Actually, a key is to keep our head above water while (we're not pitching well),” Maddon said before the game. “I know it's going to happen. Our guys are good. They're healthy. They'll continue to pitch better.
“For us to be in the position that we're in now (first place) while they're not in the top of their game, I kind of like it because they're going to be there. They're going to pitch very similar to what you have seen the last couple of years.”
The starters, who led the majors with a 2.96 ERA last season, currently rank 26th with a 4.65 mark.
The last time the Cubs didn't allow a run in the first inning was Saturday, when John Lackey blanked the Red Sox despite expressing his displeasure with umpire Bill Welke's strike zone. Lackey will start Thursday's series finale against the Phillies.
The same perceived tight strike zone was evident in the first to Arrieta, who allowed five runs in the first inning of his previous start Friday in Boston. Arrieta walked Daniel Nava, which paved the way for a two-run first Wednesday.
But just as in his last start, Arrieta settled down and retired the final seven batters he faced, enabling the Cubs hitters to eventually solve Phillies starter Jerad Eickoff and two relievers during their four-run rally that wiped out a 3-1 deficit.
Eickoff retired 10 consecutive batters before Anthony Rizzo hit a bloop single to shallow left field. Despite the hot start of Miguel Montero, Maddon elected to lift him in favor of Willson Contreras, who ripped a two-run double off reliever Joely Rodriguez.
Matt Szczur hit a grounder up the middle, and Contreras didn't hesitate as he rounded third. Shortstop Freddy Galvis paused after fielding the ball on the outfield grass and his throw struck the mound before reaching home plate as Contreras barely beat the tag from catcher Andrew Knapp with the aid of a headfirst slide.
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