San Francisco Giants shortstop Paul DeJong throws Chicago Cubs’ Nico Hoerner out at first during the sixth inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Mon Sep 4, 2023 (AP News photo)

CHICAGO, Ill. — The San Francisco Giants’ (70-68) batters unintentionally observed the National Holiday designated for American workers, as the Chicago Cubs (74-64) put in Work, 5-0 on the North Side of the Windy City.

The Giants were unwelcomed guests of the home team, as their starting pitcher, right-hander Justin Steele (16-3, 2.58) had them handcuffed with his career-high 12 strikeouts and only two hits allowed. Steele was as effective as a steel trap door, by pitching eight innings, giving up two walks, tossing 92 pitches, with 62 strikes.

Chicago’s righty relief pitcher, Jose Cuas also got in on the action with his own strikeout on the woeful Giants. His action gave SF the Baker’s Dozen, or in some circles, unlucky 13 K’s.

Although the offense was essentially nonexistent, starting pitcher Logan Webb (9-12, 3.51) was holding his own through 6 innings with a one-run deficit on a second inning deep homer (432ft.) by Seiya Suzuki. However, while the bullpen was warming up pitchers to come in for him, the seventh turned the game into a no contest, with two more runs, and knocking him out of the game, with 6 2/3 innings pitched, five hits, three earned runs, four strikeouts on 94 pitches.

The Cubs were not satisfied with that tally, so they decided to add on two more in the eighth stanza. This included their fifth and final run on a fielder’s choice rundown play, where Cody Bellinger creeped into home before the tag was applied to the runner in the aforementioned play.

As for the Giants’ feeble two hits: Third baseman Casey Schmitt hit a single to right field in the top of the second inning. Shortstop Paul DeJong slapped a base hit to leftfield in the top of the eighth inning. Other than that, the Giants bats were cold as popsicles, despite the temperature hitting 89 degrees at first pitch in the Midwest’s largest Metropolis.

Besides Steele putting in a hard day’s work, Susuki followed up his HR blast with a RBI double, and fielder’s choice RBI. He also scored two runs himself. As Disco sensation Donner Summer intimated in her hit song, these two worked hard for their money, on Labor Day.

The Giants have a chance to redeem themselves Tuesday evening (6:40 pm CST), September 5, as they face the Cubs for game 2 of the three game series. San Francisco will start RHP Ryan Walker (4-2, 2.16), while Chicago plans to put RHP Kyle Hendricks (5-7, 3.59) on the hill.

Notes: With the last loss San Francisco is 1-4 on this current road trip and 1-3 against the Cubs in 2023. In their last 28 games, they have managed to only win nine games, Despite that horrible winning percentage since August 5, they are still two games above .500 and continue to be in playoff contention.