Cubs drop Giants in 10
SAN FRANCISCO -- Wanted for Cubs pitcher Rich Hill: a little run support.
Other than that, the Cubs had little to complain about Wednesday night after a 4-2 victory in 10 innings over the San Francisco Giants.
The Cubs managed just 2 runs for hard-luck starter Hill, but they got a little luck as a team, coming up with a pair of unearned runs in the 10th to post their second straight victory in this series.
Coupled with Milwaukee's 3-2 loss at Arizona, the Cubs (65-60) grabbed a 1-game lead over the Brewers (65-62) in the National League Central, with the Cardinals (61-62) lurking 3 games back.
Hill, who entered the game with the lowest run support in the majors (3.24 runs per 9 innings), expressed only happiness.
"The goal isn't personal," said Hill, whose record held at 7-7 as his ERA fell from 3.73 to 3.67. "At the end of the season, it's a team goal. You get your wins as you go along."/p>
The Cubs got this win with a little help from the Giants. Cliff Floyd, who drove in the go-ahead runs in Tuesday's opener, began the 10th by lining a double to the right-field corner. Felix Pie ran for Floyd and took third on a passed ball charged to Bengie Molina. Mike Fontenot walked, and Jason Kendall ripped a hard grounder that second baseman Rich Aurilia couldn't come up with.
The play went for an error that scored Pie and sent Fontenot to third.
"I tried to elevate it and didn't," Kendall said. "Fortunately for us, we got a good kick or whatever you want to call it."
After Jacque Jones struck out, the Cubs won a guessing game. With the count 2-1 on pinch hitter Henry Blanco, the Giants' Pat Misch pitched out. Nothing was on then, but Blanco laid down a perfect squeeze on 3-1 to give the Cubs their 2-run lead.
"Henry can handle the bat," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella. "They had pitched out on a 2-1 count, and we just took a chance that they wouldn't pitch out 3-1. Henry laid down a perfect bunt."
The game began as a nice duel between curveballing lefties Hill and Barry Zito of the Giants.
The Giants put across single runs in each of the first and third innings while Zito breezed through the Cubs' lineup, retiring the first 10 batters before Mark DeRosa singled with one out in the fourth.
Derrek Lee followed with a single to center, and Aramis Ramirez drove both runners home with a double to the gap in left-center, tying the game at 2-2.
After Molina singled with two outs in the third, Hill retired the next 12 batters before Zito singled with two outs in the seventh. Hill struck out Rajai Davis to end the inning. It was Hill's 10th strikeout.
"I was throwing the curveball for strikes and being consistent again with the fastball,"ˆÅ¥ Hill said. "The biggest thing was continuing that same aggressive mindset, taking that out there through 7 innings.
The extra-inning victory was just the Cubs' second this year. Their first came May 6 against Washington. Carlos Marmol (3-1) earned the win with 2 strong innings, and Ryan Dempster notched his 20th save.