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Russell sets Cubs mark for left-handers

While the Blackhawks were on their way to playing nearly two games Tuesday night and many Chicago sports fans were heading to bed while the Cubs were in San Diego, James Russell was setting an all-time Cubs record.

The 29-year-old left-hander took the loss in Tuesday night's 4-3 loss to the Padres. When he entered the game in relief, he appeared in his 324th game as a Cub, the most by a left-handed pitcher in Cubs history. He had shared the record with Willie Hernandez.

"It's cool," Russell said at Wrigley Field this past weekend. "It's something special. I don't think I'm over yet. It's exciting."

A 14th-round draft pick by the Cubs in 2007, Russell came up in 2010 and became a workhorse, pitching all but five of his games as a Cub in relief.

From 2011-13, he appeared in 64, 77 and 74 games, respectively. Last July 31, the Cubs traded him to the Atlanta Braves, who let him go this year at the end of spring training.

Russell had good things to say upon being traded, so it really wasn't a surprise when Cubs president Theo Epstein called him this spring to see if he was interested in coming back. Russell signed a minor league contract in early April and was selected from Class AAA Iowa on May 5.

"I only had one more year before hitting free agency," he said. "Unfortunately, I hit it a little bit earlier. But once Theo called ... I always loved being here and had a great time here. It was the only place I really knew. To come back in this situation, where we're having fun, our team is like nothing we've ever had before. Just everything around this place is really special. It makes it that much more fun.

"It's kind of flattering. In the same sense, it's comforting."

Russell originally came up as the Cubs were beginning a steep decline after winning division titles in 2007 and 2008.

"It feels like the other day we had Kerry (Wood) and (Ryan) Dempster and (Ted) Lilly and D-Lee (Derrek Lee) and all those guys in this locker room, and (Carlos) Zambrano and (Carlos) Marmol," he said. "It's funny how quick it goes. You feel that arbitration is so far away when you first get in. Next thing you know, you blink your eyes, and you're staring free agency down. It's kind of crazy. You don't even realize how quick it goes until you can sit back and take it in."

He says the atmosphere in today's young Cubs club is totally different.

"It's real special," he said. "It's like a team I've never been a part of before. It's fun. Everybody's really close-knit. They were nice enough to welcome me real quick. It's something special, like nothing we've had before when I've been here."

This and that:

Wednesday night's starting pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada, struck out the first four batters he faced to begin his season. According to STATS, Inc., the previous Cubs starter to do that was Frank Castillo on April 10, 1992. ,,, Third baseman Kris Bryant took a nine-game hitting streak into Thursday. That was the longest active hitting streak among National League rookies. Bryant was 12-for-29 (.414) during the streak. ... Entering Thursday, 8 of the Cubs' 10 wins in May were by 1 run. The Cubs were 12-7 overall in 1-run games, and the 12 victories were the most in the major leagues.

Cubs scouting report

Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field

TV: Comcast SportsNet Plus today; Comcast SportsNet Saturday; WGN Sunday

Radio: WBBM 780-AM

Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Jon Lester (4-2) vs. Josh Collmenter (3-5) today at 8:40 p.m.; Jake Arrieta (4-4) vs. Rubby De La Rosa (4-2) Saturday at 9:10 p.m.; Jason Hammel (3-1) vs. Jeremy Hellickson (1-3) Sunday at 3:10 p.m.

At a glance: The Diamondbacks (19-21) on Thursday completed a four-game sweep of the Marlins in Miami. It was the fifth four-game road sweep in D'backs history. Paul Goldschmidt continues to be an offensive force, at .322/.421/.603 with 10 homers and 32 RBI. Like the Cubs in Kris Bryant, the D'backs have a Rookie of the Year candidate in third baseman Yasmani Tomas, who is at .349/.391/.442 with 1 homer and 12 RBI in his first 28 games. Arizona ranked third in runs scored and 11th in ERA (4.18) entering Thursday night's action. The Cubs went into Thursday night's series finale at San Diego sixth in runs and seventh in ERA (3.93). Cubs batters led major-league baseball in pitches seen per plate appearance (4.00).

Next: Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field, Monday-Wednesday

- Bruce Miles

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