Overview

• Derek Thomas ejected Nico Hoerner in the fifth inning after the second baseman argued a low-and-inside strike that ended his at-bat.
• Manager Craig Counsell was tossed moments later when he ran out of the dugout to challenge Thomas’s decision.
• Fans and analysts compared Thomas’s strike zone to veteran umpire Angel Hernandez and criticized his handling of pivotal game moments.
• Jack Flaherty struck out nine and limited Chicago to two hits across six dominant innings en route to the shutout.
• The 4-0 defeat marked the Cubs’ second shutout loss on their current road trip, underscoring struggles against strong pitching.