SAN FRANCISCO — Center fielder Mike Tauchman wasn’t interested in talking about the Cubs’ upcoming homestand when he was asked Saturday about how a couple of good games against the Giants might carry over.
‘‘We’ve got one more [Sunday],’’ he said. ‘‘And we want that one. So we’re coming out with the same attitude and intent. We talked a lot about intent this week as a position-player group and being a little bit more on the offensive and trying to make things happen, trying to put pressure on teams.
‘‘And in the last few days, we’ve done a good job of that.’’
On Sunday, the hitters’ intent wasn’t why the Cubs stumbled. Instead, a 13-3 loss to the Giants showed how reliant the Cubs are on starting pitching.
‘‘If we play good defensively and get good pitching, we’re in games,’’ manager David Ross said. ‘‘And just not a lot of margin for error. Pretty ugly performance pitching today. Left a lot of guys on base today. So just got to be better.
‘‘But I love the way that guys responded after getting swept in Anaheim. . . . And when our starting pitchers are carrying the load, we’re doing all right.’’
The Cubs were on the cusp of earning a split of their 10-game California road trip. On the back of a couple of strong pitching performances by starters Marcus Stroman and Kyle Hendricks, they took the first two games against the Giants. But the loss Sunday gave them a 4-6 record on their West Coast swing.
The Giants threw their second consecutive bullpen game, giving the Cubs’ offense a prime opportunity to take advantage of their shortage of starting pitching. And while the Cubs didn’t fully capitalize on the Giants’ sloppy defense, their pitching staff gave them a steep deficit to make up.
Starter Hayden Wesneski hit the first batter he faced, then gave up a two-run home run to former Cubs slugger Joc Pederson. That opposite-field shot was an impressive piece of hitting, but Pederson outdid himself in the third inning, launching a two-run homer into McCovey Cove.
‘‘I’m a little off,’’ Wesneski said, ‘‘but I’d say more mentally off than physically.’’
Ross pulled Wesneski after he allowed a leadoff single and issued a walk in the fourth.
‘‘Just wasn’t very sharp,’’ Ross said. ‘‘Didn’t look like he had his best stuff from the jump.’’
The bullpen was in the same boat.
‘‘Some of the guys down there are throwing the ball really well,’’ left-hander Brandon Hughes, who has been battling nagging knee inflammation, said of the inconsistent bullpen. ‘‘I feel like I’m slacking and I’m weighing them down.’’
He’s not the only reliever who put together a rough outing on the trip. On Sunday alone, three relievers — Hughes (three runs), Jeremiah Estrada (two) and Javier Assad (three) — surrendered multiple runs to make the game a blowout.
The Cubs’ rotation has been able to carry them in spurts. The Cubs have 29 quality starts this season, which was tied for the most in the National League entering play Sunday. In fact, even after Wesneski was charged with five runs in three-plus innings, the rotation (3.87) had the second-best ERA in the NL, trailing only that of the Braves (3.84).
Left-hander Justin Steele (strained left forearm), who has the third-best ERA among qualified starters in the NL at 2.65, is lined up to rejoin the rotation during the upcoming homestand. His presence should provide a boost.
So far, however, the success of the rotation hasn’t translated into the kind of winning streak the Cubs need to make up ground in the NL Central.
