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  "path": "/cubs/2026/04/29/cubs-offense-backs-jameson-taillons-solid-start",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-30T03:36:58.914Z",
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  "textContent": "<p>SAN DIEGO — Jameson Taillon spent part of Wednesday morning giving an impromptu concert with guitars stashed in the visitors’ clubhouse at Petco Park.</p><p>Given how well he pitched, setting down the first 14 batters in order, surviving two solo homers, and then allowing just one more hit in seven innings of the <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs\" >Cubs</a>’ 5-4 victory over the Padres, should we expect an encore from the music man?</p><p>“No, there’s no guitars anywhere else other than here,’’ Taillon said. “So we’re safe.</p><p>“They’re Taylor guitars, really, really nice, actually. I mean, I haven’t played in like 10 years, but I used to play a bunch, and I know about 4½ songs.’’</p><p>His signature tune?</p><div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-floatRight><div class=\"Enhancement-item\"> <div class=\"ExternalContent-wrapper\" data-embed> <iframe width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/C-Naa1HXeDQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen title=\"Matchbox Twenty - 3AM (Official Video) [HD Remaster]\"></iframe> </div> </div></div><p>“3AM by Matchbox Twenty,’’ he said.</p><p>Fourteen up, fourteen down is generally too early to be thinking about 27 up, 27 down. Taillon was aware that no one had reached base. “More than anything, I was aware I had good stuff today and good command, good pitch mix,’’ he said.</p><p>The Cubs and Padres played each other in a NL wild-card series last October, the Cubs taking two out of three, with all three games played in Wrigley because the Cubs finished with a better regular season record. Taking two out of three in Petco, and finishing 3-3 in this six-game trip against the best in the West, the Dodgers and Padres, even if it’s April, made for a satisfying flight home.</p><p>Ben Brown assured the Cubs of a happy landing by inheriting a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the eighth and allowing just one run, on a sacrifice fly by Fernando Tatis Jr. Brown subsequently induced a double-play ground ball from Manny Machado, stand-in second baseman Matt Shaw turning two to end the inning.</p><p>Home runs by Shaw, who fell a triple short of the cycle (bunt single in the fourth, double in the sixth), and Pete Crow-Armstrong, his second in two games, proved decisive.</p><p>“I mean, he impacts the game no matter what,’’ Taillon said. “Even if the bat’s not there, he’s making a difference running the bases and playing defense with the energy he brings, but when the bat’s going, it’s a game changer. He can electrify an offense.’’</p><p>Former Cubs pitcher and broadcaster Rick Sutcliffe said he spoke with injured pitcher Justin Steele [strained flexor] by phone Wednesday. “We talked a little, cried a little,’’ Sutcliffe said. “He had an injection. They’ll have to wait three or four weeks for the inflammation to go down. Things were going so well. I just told him this team is built for October. Get back here by September 1 and get after it.’’</p><p>Padres pitchers threw at least five pitches that were dangerously wild the last two games. Shaw was knocked down Tuesday and had a pitch go behind him Wednesday, Seiya Suzuki was knocked down Tuesday, and Nico Hoerner was hit by a pitch in the brim of his helmet. “I’ve never seen so many balls high and tight in a series, right?” Shaw said. “I mean, there’s certain times maybe guys are doing it on purpose, but it was never like that here today. You just got to get back up and play the game.’’</p><bsp-listcarousel class=\"PageListE\" data-module data-column-count=3 data-hide-authors=\"true\" data-hide-categories=\"true\" data-hide-dates=\"true\" data-hide-descriptions=\"true\" data-show-loadmore=\"true\" ><a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"list-c90005\" name=\"list-c90005\"></a><div class=\"PageList-header\" > <div class=\"PageList-header-title-wrap\" > <div class=\"PageList-header-title\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs\" target=\"{borderColor=#dfdfdf, pageNumber=1, count=13868, titleUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs, inverseColors=false, footerBgColor=#000000, title=Latest on the Cubs, bodyFont=font-3, showListNumbers=false, imagePositionHorizontal=null, rteBodyFont=font-3, headerBottomBorderColor=#111010, subTitle=null, stickyHeader=true, listTitleColor=#000000, tableCellBorderColor=#ccd1d5, items=[{authors=[{jobTitle=[{items=[Gordon Edes is a sports contributor at the Chicago Sun-Times.]}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, bio=[{items=[Chicago Sun-Times sports contributor]}], name=[{items=[Gordon Edes]}], authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/gordon-edes, media=[{ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/8c/3b/a9e4df4442f181af5f9e4e9e5510/image0.jpeg, width=1001, height=1331}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/8c/3b/a9e4df4442f181af5f9e4e9e5510/image0.jpeg, width=1001, height=1331}, alt=Gordon Edes}]}], type=Image, categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs, _styledTemplate=null, category=[{items=[Cubs]}], imageAlignment=null, isFeatured=false, description=[{items=[Counsell credits former players and coaches on his career mark. After the win, he celebrated with shot of Jeppson’s Malört.]}], title=Cubs manager Craig Counsell celebrates 900th MLB victory, publishDate=April 29, 2026 10:28 PM, timestamp=1777519712000, media=[{image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/10/9b/621aff344eacaf6e2bdca2a2695f/phillies-cubs-baseball.jpg, width=5277, height=3518}, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/10/9b/621aff344eacaf6e2bdca2a2695f/phillies-cubs-baseball.jpg, width=5277, height=3518}, alt=Phillies Cubs Baseball}], target=null, primaryMediaType=null, wordCount=694, ampLink=null, url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/29/cubs-manager-craig-counsell-celebrates-900th-mlb-victory, audio=[], audioDuration=null, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs, anchorId=promo-050000}, {type=Image, categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs, title=Cubs starter Justin Steele's return delayed by elbow strain, _styledTemplate=null, 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defaultArticleLeadStyle=standard, _parentFiles=[/page/list/includes/PageList-header.hbs]}\">Latest on the Cubs</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListE-items\"> <div class=\"PageListE-items-item\"> <div class=\"PagePromoB\"data-align-top> <div class=\"PagePromo-media\"><a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Cubs manager Craig Counsell celebrates 900th MLB victory\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/29/cubs-manager-craig-counsell-celebrates-900th-mlb-victory\" ><picture data-crop=\"medium-4x3\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ea5754a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5256x3518+21+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F10%2F9b%2F621aff344eacaf6e2bdca2a2695f%2Fphillies-cubs-baseball.jpg\"/> <source width=\"490\" height=\"328\" 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Craig Counsell celebrates 900th MLB victory</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">Counsell credits former players and coaches on his career mark. After the win, he celebrated with shot of Jeppson’s Malört.</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1777519712000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/gordon-edes\" >Gordon Edes </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"694\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListE-items-item\"> <div class=\"PagePromoB\"data-align-top> <div class=\"PagePromo-media\"><a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Cubs starter Justin Steele's return delayed by elbow strain\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/28/cubs-starter-justin-steeles-return-delayed-by-elbow-strain\" ><picture data-crop=\"medium-4x3\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e199305/2147483647/strip/true/crop/840x562+23+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F8b%2F43%2F2fb3169c460f8d3b377dd9a20db0%2Fscreenshot-2026-04-28-at-8-31-16-pm.png\"/> <source width=\"490\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1671ad8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/840x562+23+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F8b%2F43%2F2fb3169c460f8d3b377dd9a20db0%2Fscreenshot-2026-04-28-at-8-31-16-pm.png\"/> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"Screenshot 2026-04-28 at 8.31.16 PM.png\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1671ad8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/840x562+23+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F8b%2F43%2F2fb3169c460f8d3b377dd9a20db0%2Fscreenshot-2026-04-28-at-8-31-16-pm.png\"> </picture> </a></div> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-category\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs\" >Cubs</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/28/cubs-starter-justin-steeles-return-delayed-by-elbow-strain\" >Cubs starter Justin Steele's return delayed by elbow strain</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">The Cubs were hoping the lefty would be back in May or June.</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1777426641000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], 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<source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6f02480/2147483647/strip/true/crop/896x600+8+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fae%2F32%2F760708004af19bb4321fbe239ea6%2Fscreenshot-2026-04-28-at-5-32-44-pm.png\"/> <source width=\"490\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2e77207/2147483647/strip/true/crop/896x600+8+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fae%2F32%2F760708004af19bb4321fbe239ea6%2Fscreenshot-2026-04-28-at-5-32-44-pm.png\"/> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"Screenshot 2026-04-28 at 5.32.44 PM.png\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2e77207/2147483647/strip/true/crop/896x600+8+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fae%2F32%2F760708004af19bb4321fbe239ea6%2Fscreenshot-2026-04-28-at-5-32-44-pm.png\"> </picture> </a></div> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-category\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs\" >Cubs</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/28/could-moises-ballesteros-be-cubs-first-rookie-of-the-year-since-kris-bryant\" >Could Moises Ballesteros be Cubs' first Rookie of the Year since Kris Bryant?</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">The DH/catcher’s offense has been impressive so far this season.</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1777416015000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/gordon-edes\" >Gordon Edes </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"786\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </bsp-listcarousel><p></p>",
  "title": "Cubs’ offense backs Jameson Taillon's solid start",
  "updatedAt": "2026-04-30T03:36:58.914Z"
}