Nothing doing for Cubs
Shutout loss to Arizona takes some sparkle off still-solid 7-3 homestand
The Cubs hadn't lost back-to-back games since June 20-21 against the Texas Rangers. They hadn't lost a series at Wrigley Field since dropping two of three to the San Diego Padres a week before the Rangers series.
But their month of success ended Sunday with a second straight loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the 3-0 decision taking a bite out of what all believe was a worthy 7-3 homestand.
But their month of success ended Sunday with a second straight loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the 3-0 decision taking a bite out of what all believe was a worthy 7-3 homestand.
''If you come back from the All-Star break and said you win seven out of 10, you'd be pleased,'' manager Lou Piniella said. ''But suddenly you're 7-3, and everyone is displeased. It's because we lost the last two, but so what? Arizona has good pitching. We didn't muster much the last two days. Give them credit.''
(AP)
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Cubs vs. Diamondbacks
''If you come back from the All-Star break and said you win seven out of 10, you'd be pleased,'' manager Lou Piniella said. ''But suddenly you're 7-3, and everyone is displeased. It's because we lost the last two, but so what? Arizona has good pitching. We didn't muster much the last two days. Give them credit.''
The loss cost the Cubs a game to the Milwaukee Brewers, who again lead the National League Central by 3½ games. The fact that the race already is worth watching in late July shows how things have changed on the North Side.
''Look at the big picture -- we went 7-3 on the homestand, which is pretty darn good,'' Mark DeRosa said.
''In baseball, you always take what you can get, and 7-3 is pretty good,'' Cliff Floyd said. ''A few months ago, everyone would have taken that.
''But at the same time, we're not going to get complacent. [The series loss] is a tough one to swallow, but you move on.''
Floyd returned to the lineup in right field Sunday after missing two games with a bruised shoulder. His 0-for-4 day mirrored most of his teammates, who managed only four hits -- and only three against starter Yusmeiro Petit (2-2) -- in getting shut out for the fifth time this season.
''He hides the ball well,'' said Alfonso Soriano, who doubled in the third as the only Cub to get beyond first base. ''We don't play these guys a lot, so we don't know them, and they did a very good job.''
Soriano had only that double in the three-game series, one that saw the Cubs total eight hits in the last two games compared to nine in the first game Friday.
''That's one of the best bullpens I've seen,'' Floyd said. ''Usually you get to a bullpen and you're feeling pretty good. But they threw hard, and they're smart. [Diamondbacks manager] Bob Melvin has done a great job with them in knowing their roles.''
Tony Pena and Brandon Lyon succeeded Petit in not allowing a hit before closer Jose Valverde (30th save) gave up a single to Ryan Theriot leading off the ninth. But the Diamondbacks' closer quickly stopped a rally with a pair of strikeouts before Floyd flew out to end it.
The Cubs got their own measure of good pitching from starter Sean Marshall (4-4), who gave up only a first-inning run after two outs. He worked five more scoreless innings, giving up only three hits after the first, walking two and striking out five.
''I take some confidence out of this start,'' the lefty said, though he is winless in his last four starts (two no-decisions). ''It's tough we didn't score runs, but that happens to any baseball team. We had an outstanding homestand, and the pitching staff can't complain a bit. Hopefully, we keep playing like we have and close the gap [with the Brewers].''
Piniella liked what he saw from reliever Scott Eyre, who hadn't pitched in seven days but got the call in the ninth. Eyre walked one and struck out one in the scoreless frame.
''We can put him in our scheme because we've been going predominantly right-handed [from the bullpen], and I think it's starting to show,'' Piniella said.
The outcome wasn't as good for Carlos Marmol, who had been pitching well the last month. Marmol was greeted with a Chris Snyder home run leading off the seventh, then gave up two walks and a single for the other Diamondbacks' score.
''We've leaned on him, and he's gotten the job done,'' Piniella said. ''Now my job as a manager is to give him a little breather.
''Our pitching was really good this whole series. We just didn't swing the bats well against Arizona. We lost a series -- and it probably won't be the last series we lose this year. We need a couple guys to get hot again, and getting Derrek Lee back [Tuesday after his five-game suspension] will help a lot.''