As the Cubs struggle to win series, a lack of consistent fundamental baseball is not helping to overcome their shortcomings

MILWAUKEE — Controlling the controllable tends to be the mark of winning teams.

There are days hitters will be shut down by the opposing pitching staff. Others when a starter or bullpen might not have their best stuff. Every big-league team experiences both over the course of a season. But defense and smart base running should be key pillars on a playoff-caliber team — yet for the Chicago Cubs, those fundamentals continue to be lacking for a veteran team.

Those issues have become even more pronounced during the Cubs’ struggles over the last two months. A weekend of more miscues on the bases and mistakes in the field contributed to the Cubs dropping the series with a 7-1 loss Sunday to the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. They scored all seven runs in the fourth inning off right-hander Kyle Hendricks.

The Cubs (39-46) have lost 16 of their last 22 games on the road and enter July sitting in last place in the National League Central — 11 1/2 games behind the Brewers — with only the Miami Marlins and Colorado Rockies owning more losses in the NL.

“I think it’s going further back, we’ve been trying a sense urgency and yesterday was a good win, big win for us,” Hendricks said. ” … We have some of our leaders doing the things we need to do, just still that inconsistency. The sense of urgency has been there, it’s still there.

“We have to take care of our jobs, take care of our business and it starts with each individual, so me focusing on doing my job to the best of my ability.”

The Cubs managed just two hits in Sunday’s loss, both tallied in the first inning. Nico Hoerner’s second leadoff home run of the year stood as their lone run. Despite putting some pressure on Brewers starter Freddy Peralta in the opening inning, the offense managed just two base runners (both walks) the rest of the game.

“Offensively it’s a day when it’s one run so it’s hard to see a scenario that’s going to win us a game and so offensively, no matter who we’re facing, we’re going to have to be better,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “That’s kind of what I take away from it.”

The Cubs, though, again hurt themselves with poor execution. Left fielder Ian Happ misplayed Rhys Hoskins’ flyball in the fourth, resulting in the ball falling for a single. Rather than representing the second out of the inning, Milwaukee had runners on first and second base. Sal Fralick followed with an RBI single to put the Brewers ahead 3-1, and Jackson Chourio’s ensuing single loaded the bases. Hendricks struck out Andrew Monasterio, which should have ended the inning had Happ caught the ball.

Instead of heading to the fifth down by two runs, two pitches later Brice Turang slugged a grand slam to end Hendricks’ day.

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