WATCH: Craig Counsell, Ben Brown and Nico Hoerner reflect after loss at Wrigley

Tony Crumpton - Senior Editor - 23 hours ago

Hear from Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell, starting pitcher Ben Brown, and second baseman Nico Hoerner after a 3-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field.

Watch the postgame interviews below:

Video summary/cliff notes:

(00:01–00:50) Craig Counsell highlighted the bright spots, like strikeouts and late-inning rallies, but lamented early walks and an inability to generate traffic early in innings, which proved costly.

(01:35–02:29) Ben Brown discussed losing aggressiveness early, struggling to execute the curveball consistently, and needing nearly 100 pitches to find his rhythm, which he finally did in the fifth inning.

(02:08–02:59) Brown reflected on his improved durability compared to last year, aiming to unlock better performance earlier in games, and was grateful for grinding through a tough outing.

(03:28–03:45) He emphasized learning to stay aggressive and make in-game adjustments, citing previous starts where he lost control, contrasting with this outing where he recovered late.

(04:07–04:31) Nico Hoerner talked about weather conditions at Wrigley, noting how April games can drastically swing from hitter-friendly to pitcher-friendly, impacting the game plan.

(04:54–05:16) Hoerner emphasized maintaining the team’s mental approach after tough losses, recognizing every game’s importance and the team’s resilience.

(05:16–05:42) Looking ahead, the Cubs are focused on continuing their strong mentality against upcoming opponents like the Mets, even if specific preparation hadn't started yet.

(06:06) Counsell praised Ben Brown for showing signs of a great starting pitcher—even without his best stuff, he kept the Cubs in the game and gave them a chance to win.