The Chicago Cubs suffered one of their worst losses of the 2025 season on Monday, allowing the Marlins to complete a walk-off victory in the ninth.
The Cubs had a precarious 7-6 lead heading into the later innings, and they looked like they were in the driver's seat after scoreless outings from relievers Caleb Thielbar, Ryan Pressly, and Drew Pomeranz. Fireballer Daniel Palencia got the ball in the ninth inning, and he looked like he was about to shut the door on the fish to give the Cubs four straight victories.
Palencia also had two outs, no runners on the basepaths, and two strikes on Miami's center fielder Derek Hill. But Hill proceeded to smack a ground rule double to right field on a ball that Kyle Tucker had a good chance to catch. Then Palencia walked the next batter and gave up a game-ending triple to Jesús Sánchez.
The heartbreaking loss was compounded by the fact that the Cubs had already come back twice in the game thanks to the efforts of catcher Miguel Amaya. After the Marlins took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, when Sánchez and Agustín Ramírez homered, the Cubs stormed back on a three-run dinger from Amaya in the fourth inning.
Cubs' starter Ben Brown gave the momentum back to Miami after a rough fifth inning that saw four Marlins cross home plate. But the Cubs came back again when Amaya tied the game on a two-RBI triple.
The Cubs then took the lead on a double from third baseman Matt Shaw, who collected two hits in his return from Triple-A. But the 7-6 lead wasn't enough for Palencia to hold, and fans were left wondering why Porter Hodge hadn't come into the game.
Porter Hodge is Heading to the IL
To make the devastating loss just a little worse, Manager Craig Cousnell announced that Hodge is heading to the injured list with a left oblique injury during his postgame interview. Hodge has been the team's de facto closer since Ryan Pressly was demoted in earlier this month.
Hodge has been solid in high leverage spots this year with 16 scoreless appearances out of Chicago's bullpen with 19 strikeouts. But now the Cubs will have to fend without him for an unknown amount of time. Oblique injures are notoriously finicky in baseball and Hodge could be out for several weeks or months depending on the severity.
