Cubs Lazy Against Lehr

Wow, talk a about a sorry effort.

Cards lose in New York long before the first pitch in Cincy leaving the door wide open for the NL Central lead.

Chicago, surprisingly, gives us one of its worse efforts of the season: Shutout by a kid making his second career start.

It’s not like Justin Lehr is unhittable, either. The guy never topped 87 MPH on the gun all night, but the free swinging Cubs didn’t have the patience to create any offense.

That’s pitiful given the Reds are a god-awful (-94) in run differential entering the game.

Furthermore, by the numbers Harden was primed for his third win since the break. He entered the game 4-1 on the road, 5-1 in night games and 4-0 all time against Cincinnati.

None of that matters, however, when you don’t score runs!

Way too many mental mistakes outside the box, as well: Harden throwing wide of third and Soriano lazily being picked off first.

Just a bad ending on get-away-day.

You’ll settle for two of three on the road, but the lack of hustle is what’s disappointing, especially considering first place was for the taking.

And after Dusty held a closed door meeting with his players following Tuesday night’s game, the Reds’ eighth straight loss, you knew the Red Legs would play with some passion.

Sadly, the Cubs played roll reversal and forfeited their chance to sweep the series.

For certain, this is one of the most disappointing losses of the season, and most definitely of the second half, but it’s not worth getting bent out of shape over it either.

The Cubs are an NL-best 14-6 since the break and playing their best baseball of the year.

You get an off day Thursday and then regroup in Colorado for the first of four.

Aside from getting embarrassed as a team isn’t always a bad thing.

Let’s just hope it’s the last time it happens this season.

• The Cubs (57-49) are tied with St. Louis for first place.

• W: Lehr (1-0) L: Harden (7-7)

• Chicago is 3-3 on its current 10-game road swing.

• The loss snaps a six-game winning streak against the Reds.

• It’s been nine games since Chicago failed to hit a home run.

• The Cubs agreed to release BJ Ryan from his minor league contract.

• Former Cubs Mark Prior and Ryan Freel were DFA earlier this week by S.D. and K.C.