Tough to say if Volstad will return next season
It’s hard to say how or even if Chris Volstad fits into the Cubs’ pitching plans for next year.
Volstad got a no-decision in Friday’s 5-4, 11-inning victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. He ran his pitch count to 37 in the first inning — when leadoff man John Jay fouled off 8 in a 12-pitch at-bat — and lasted just 5 innings.
It marked the fifth straight start in which Volstad failed to go 6 innings. His record held at 3-10 and his ERA dipped from 6.26 to 6.22 as he gave up 6 hits and 3 runs.
Volstad will be arbitration-eligible in the off-season, and the Cubs simply could not tender him a contract. He’s making $2.655 million this season. The Cubs obtained him from the Marlins last off-season in a trade for Carlos Zambrano.
Cubs manager Dale Sveum said he felt Volstad did OK Friday.
“I thought Volstad battled and did a nice job against one of the best, if not the best, offenses in the National League,” Sveum said.
It’s another first:Reliever Alberto Cabrera earned his first major-league victory by pitching a scoreless 11th. He became the sixth Cubs pitcher to earn his first big-league win this year, joining Chris Rusin, Brooks Raley, Jeff Beliveau, Rafael Dolis and Scott Maine, who is no longer with the team. On this homestand, all 3 Cubs victories have been first wins for the pitcher: Rusin, Beliveau and Cabrera. Welcome back: Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter worked 5 innings in his first start of the season. He had been out with a right-shoulder ailment and a nerve issue that affected the right side of his body. Carpenter gave up 5 hits and 2 runs while walking one and striking out two. #147;My stuff wasn#146;t as sharp as I#146;d like and it wasn#146;t as sharp as it#146;s been in the simulated games,#148; he said. #147;But I tried to get as many outs as I could and give us a chance. It was fun to get back out there. Hopefully my stuff will get better and sharper as I get out there more often. #147;The more you get out there, the more comfortable you get. You get more in time, you get more in rhythm #133; but this is something to build off.#148;BBN21971579Chicago Cubs starter Chris Volstad throws against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Friday, Sept. 21, 2012.Associated PressBBN