Things just keeps getting uglier for Cubs
Only the Cubs?
Well, maybe in a year like this.
The San Diego Padres completed a four-game sweep of the Cubs, beating them 5-3 Thursday at Wrigley Field. The way they did it had many in the season-low crowd of 30,687 either booing or shaking their heads.
The Cubs had just scored 2 runs in the sixth to take a 2-1 lead, and dependable reliever Sean Marshall took the mound.
Marshall promptly gave up the lead by walking the first batter he faced and giving up 3 straight singles. Later in the inning, a hit by Will Venable put runners on second and third with one out.
With Justin Berg pitching, Chris Denorfia bounced the ball to third baseman Aramis Ramirez, who tossed to catcher Koyie Hill at home. Hill ran baserunner Chase Headley back to third, tagging him out.
It looked like Hill tried to call timeout, but the umpires didn't acknowledge it. As Hill walked toward the mound, Venable took off from third for home. Hill threw, but first baseman Xavier Nady, coming down the line, could not beat Venable, and the Padres had their fourth run of the inning.
Nady may have hesitated, seeing Denorfia break from first to second. Hill took the blame.
"I felt like I gestured timeout like I always gesture timeout," said Hill, who owns a reputation for being a heady player. "I think in that situation, I need to be a little more emphatic about it to make sure, because you've got guys scattered all over the field.
"What's frustrating is that it wasn't lack of concentration. It wasn't just cluelessness. It just happened. I don't know how to explain it. I felt like I asked for timeout with the same gesture I always use for timeout. Ultimately, it's the player's responsibility. And so far as being accountable, no doubt, I'll be accountable right there."
Manager Lou Piniella agreed with Hill's assessment.
"You've got to put your arms up to stop play," Piniella said. "He put his wrists out, and the umpire didn't acknowledge it."
Padres starting pitcher Mat Latos (13-5) held the Cubs to 5 hits and 2 runs. Cubs starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano got a no-decision, giving up 4 hits and 1 run in 6 innings. The velocity on his fastball was down, and he walked six while striking out just one.
"It was kind of like my earlier games in the big leagues," Zambrano said. "I walked a lot of guys but I was able to command myself when I had to. I walked the first guy (in each of the first two innings), and I was able to get a groundball or a flyball. With men on base, I was able to be more aggressive.
"Larry (pitching coach Rothschild) told me if I want, just send the leadoff hitter to first base and start pitching like that. Otherwise, I felt good the whole game."
Scouting: Braves @ CubsCubs vs. Atlanta Braves at Wrigley FieldTV: Comcast SportsNet Friday; Fox (Channel 32) Saturday; Channel 9 SundayPitching matchups: The Cubs' Ryan Dempster (11-8) vs. Jair Jurrjens (5-4) Friday at 1:20 p.m.; Tom Gorzelanny (6-7) vs. Tommy Hanson (8-8) Saturday at 3:10 p.m.; Randy Wells (5-11) vs. Mike Minor (1-0) Sunday at 1:20 p.m.At a glance: Derrek Lee returns to Wrigley Field as a member of the Braves following this week's trade. The Cubs opened the season in Atlanta, losing two of three. The Braves (71-50) fell 6-2 to the Nationals on Thursday, but they hold first place in the NL East. Atlanta's Jason Heyward is a Rookie of the Year candidate. Second baseman Martin Prado has had a breakthrough year, as he's in the top 10 in batting average, mulithit games, runs, hits and doubles. The Braves are missing Chipper Jones, who is on the DL with a knee injury. Atlanta pitching entered Thursday second in ERA at 3.40. The Cubs were 13th at 4.35.Next: Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Monday-Wednesday <p class="News">Bruce Miles' game tracker</p><p class="News">Padres 5, Cubs 3</p><p class="News"><b>Road to 100 losses:</b> The Cubs dropped to 50-72, putting them on pace to finish 66-96. </p><p class="News"><b>Big Z doings:</b> Carlos Zambrano turned in a quality start, working 6 innings of 4-hit, 1 run ball. He got a no-decision. Since returning to the rotation Aug. 9, he is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in 3 starts. He threw 31 of his 112 pitches in the second inning.</p><p class="News"><b>How they scored:</b> The Cubs scored both runs in the sixth. Kosuke Fukudome singled with one out. He later scored on Marlon Byrd's double. Aramis Ramirez doubled home Byrd, giving the Cubs a short-lived 2-1 lead. </p><p class="News"><b>Tough day:</b> Lefty reliever Sean Marshall suffered his second blown save, giving up 4 hits and 4 runs in one-third of an inning, the seventh.</p><div class="infoBox"><h1>More Coverage</h1><div class="infoBoxContent"><div class="infoArea"><h2>Stories</h2><ul class="links"><li><a href="/story/?id=402135">Colvin gets some work in at first base<span class="date"> [8/19/10]</span></a></li></ul></div></div></div>