Cubs rally in ninth — with help from Giants — to win 3-2
BY GORDON WITTENMYER gwittenmyer@suntimes.com July 27, 2013 12:48AM
Chicago Cubs' Nate Schierholtz, right, is congratulated by teammate Luis Valbuena, left, after scoring a run on a single Starlin Castro against San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning of a baseball game on Friday, July 26, 2013, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
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Updated: July 27, 2013 1:53AM
SAN FRANCISCO — Nate Schierholtz knows he could be the next Cub out the door before the trade deadline Wednesday, especially considering how well he has played during the Cubs’ long road trip that concludes this weekend at AT&T Park.
“I haven’t spent a second thinking about that,” said Schierholtz, who doubled and scored the Cubs’ first run in a 3-2 comeback victory over the Giants on Friday night.
He also walked twice, including once in the decisive ninth inning, which turned on a two-out error by Giants first baseman Brandon Belt. Anthony Rizzo hit a shot on the ground through Belt and into right field, scoring the tying and go-ahead runs.
Schierholtz, whose trade value is almost as hot as his bat since he got a cortisone shot in his sore shoulder at the All-Star break, is 9-for-21 (.429) with two homers, four doubles, three walks and eight RBI in five starts and two appearances off the bench on the trip.
“Every year you hear so many names going around,” he said of his trade status. “It’s something I can’t control, so if I worry about it, it’s worry for nothing.”
Besides, he’s been through it before, traded at the July 31 deadline last year by the Giants to the Phillies. The Giants went on to win the World Series; the Phillies missed the playoffs.
“I love it here. I’d like to stay a Cub,” he said. “Hopefully, I don’t go anywhere.”
His one-year, $2.25 million contract and hot hitting suggest he should expect otherwise.
Team president Theo Epstein said again Friday the club will look into trading “short-term assets” for younger, controllable players in the next few days. Some officials from other teams see Schierholtz as the Cubs’ top trading chip left, after trades of Scott Feldman, Scott Hairston, Matt Garza and Alfonso Soriano.
Schierholtz’s run in the sixth (he scored on Starlin Castro’s single) looked briefly like it might be enough for starter Edwin Jackson, who was beating Giants ace Matt Cain until unraveling in the seventh.
Jackson was working on a two-hit shutout one out into the seventh, when a walk, double, intentional walk and two-run single ended his outing.
Even with the no-decision, he’s 3-1 with a 2.50 ERA in his last five starts.
The Cubs improved to 4-4 on the trip through Colorado, Arizona and San Francisco.
Another possible trade target, closer Kevin Gregg, earned his 20th save in 23 chances.
