Theriot, Cubs have some fun in Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE - The mood was much lighter in the Cubs' clubhouse Sunday.
That's what a 12-2 victory and a three-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers will do. Just a few days ago, the Cubs seemed down and out after losing three of four to the New York Mets.
Funny how fast things change.
"It's always fun," said shortstop Ryan Theriot, who tied his career high with 5 hits. "Obviously, you don't want to lose games. Losing is not fun. But you keep it light, and you keep it fresh, and guys continue to joke around and know that it's going to be better soon.
"Next thing you know, it turns around."
The Cubs finished the road trip 4-3 and pulled within a game of .500 at 9-10.
"We really turned our road trip around, that's the most important thing," manager Lou Piniella said. "We struggled some in New York and came here to Milwaukee and put a lot of runs on the board, and we got really good pitching."
Randy Wells did the pitching Sunday, working 7 innings and improving to 2-0 with a 2.49 ERA.
Just about everybody did the hitting. The Cubs pounded out a season-best 18 hits. In addition to Theriot's 5, both Kosuke Fukudome and Tyler Colvin came within a triple of hitting for the cycle. Geovany Soto and Derrek Lee added home runs.
"I think once a few guys get some hits, it definitely gets a little contagious, not only for us, but I think that's true in baseball in general," Theriot said. "It makes it fun, a fun sport."
Cubs hitters jumped on Brewers starter Dave Bush with 3 in the first, 2 in the second and 1 in the third before chasing him with 3 in the fourth.
Colvin got the first inning started with a 2-run double down the line in right with the bases loaded. Fukudome hit a 2-run homer in the second, and Colvin hit a solo shot to right in the third, his third homer of the season.
"It was pretty exciting for me," said Colvin, who is batting .333 (11-for-33). "To come up in that spot (in the first) and actually get something done for once for me is pretty exciting.
"I've come up lately with men in scoring position and haven't really done the job. So it was fun to get it done there."
Colvin had a shot for his triple in the eighth, but he lined hard to first baseman Prince Fielder. If Fielder hadn't come up with it and the ball had gone to the right-field corner, Colvin might have had his triple.
"It wouldn't have made it," he said. "It would have been a hustle double, probably. It crossed my mind."
Wells stranded two in the first inning and had little trouble the rest of the way pitching with a big lead. The Cubs outscored the Brewers 25-4 in the series after Milwaukee came back from Pittsburgh having outscored the Pirates 36-1 in three games.
"We had a good series," said Wells, who had a double at the plate. "Guys swung the bat. The pitching was great. That's what you want to get after a road trip like New York.
"A lot of big positives came out of this. We came back with a winning road and (swept) a divisional rival. A lot of good things come out of this, and we an only springboard from there."
<p class="factboxheadblack">Bruce Miles' game tracker</p>
<p class="News"><b>All cylinders:</b> The Cubs had a season-high 4 home runs: Tyler Colvin, Kosuke Fukudome, Derrek Lee and Geovany Soto. Every Cubs starter recorded a hit. Colvin and Fukudome had 3 hits each, and Ryan Theriot tied his career high, with 5.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Pitching, too:</b> Randy Wells turned in his third quality start and the Cubs' 13th. The Cubs are 7-6 in quality-start games, with the starters having an ERA of 1.38 in those games.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Trouble brewing:</b> Brewers starting pitcher Dave Bush allowed a career-high 4 homers. The Brewers were 0-for-10 with men in scoring position, and left eight on base. Milwaukee allowed a season-high 12 runs and 18 hits.</p>
<p class="breakhead">Cubs scouting report</p>
<p class="News">Cubs vs. Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field</p>
<p class="News"><b>TV:</b> Comcast SportsNet Plus (CLTV) Monday; Channel 26 Tuesday; Comcast SportsNet Wednesday</p>
<p class="News"><b>Radio:</b> WGN 720-AM</p>
<p class="News"><b>Pitching matchups:</b> The Cubs' Carlos Silva (2-0) vs. John Lannan (1-1) Monday at 7:05 p.m.; Tom Gorzelanny (0-2) vs. Livan Hernandez (2-1) Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.; Ryan Dempster (2-0) vs. Luis Atilano (1-0) Wednesday at 1:20 p.m.</p>
<p class="News"><b>At a glance:</b> Former Cubs manager Jim Riggleman has the Nats playing respectable ball. They beat the Dodgers 1-0 Sunday to improve to 10-9. Washington entered Sunday sixth in the NL in batting but third from the bottom in ERA, at 5.36. Monday and Tuesday mark the Cubs' first home night games of the season. The Cubs are 221-199 since the installation of lights at Wrigley field in 1988. Silva is 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA in 14 games (1 start) vs. Washington.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Next:</b> Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field, Thursday-Sunday</p>
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<li><a href="/story/?id=376018">Piniella talks up dynamic of bullpen with Zambrano<span class="date">[4/25/10]</span></a></li>
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