Clutch hit eluding Cubs
The left-on-base statistic has been a double-edged sword for the Cubs.
On one hand, they lead the National League in runs scored, so they're getting a lot of guys on base. On the other hand, they were third from the bottom Sunday in runners left on base, and in close games such as Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Phillies, those stranded runners stand out.
The Cubs left 10 on base Sunday and 9 in Saturday's 5-2 loss. They were 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position Sunday.
"We couldn't get the big hit, the last two games," said infielder Mark DeRosa. "It is a residual effect. It looks that way when you have so many opportunities with guys getting on base. We weren't able to get that big hit."
Alfonso Soriano ended the Cubs' sixth by popping out with two on. In the eighth, he fouled off the best pitch he got, a fastball down the middle from Ryan Madson, before striking out and leaving two more.
"I think they threw pretty good today, but I hit a foul ball," Soriano said. "I got a pitch to hit, and I hit a foul ball, so it's my fault. The last couple days, I've struggled a little bit at home plate. It's OK. Come back tomorrow. It's another game. ... We left a lot of runners in scoring position today and yesterday, too. I have to start concentrating a little bit more."
Casey at the bat: Infielder Casey McGehee, a spring-training stalwart the past few years, will be among the September call-ups arriving today from Class AAA Iowa.
Manager Lou Piniella said the Cubs need a right-handed bat, and McGehee fits the bill. McGehee, who turns 26 in October, plays third base, and he has catching experience. He's batting .296 with 12 homers, 92 RBI, a .345 on-base percentage and .429 slugging percentage.
Also today, look for first baseman-outfielder Micah Hoffpauir, catcher Koyie Hill and pitchers Michael Wuertz and Angel Guzman. Veteran Jon Lieber, who threw Saturday at Kane County for Class A Peoria, will come off the disabled list today after being there since July with a strained right foot.
He pitched 2 innings, giving up 2 hits and an unearned run Saturday and said he felt better than he did in his previous rehab outing.
As far as procedural moves, the Cubs recalled lefty Rich Hill and placed him on the major-league DL with lower-back soreness. Hill has been in the minor leagues since May. Veteran reliever Chad Fox will be transferred from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL because of right-elbow problems.
Not coming up today are center fielder Felix Pie and right-handed pitcher Kevin Hart. They may be up after Iowa is done with its playoffs.
This and that: Catcher Geovany Soto went 3-for-4. He is 21-for-55 (.382) with 3 homers and 16 RBI over his last 16 games. ... Center fielder Reed Johnson ended August hitting .397 for the month (23-for-58). ... Jeff Samardzija extended his scoreless-inning streak to 14, but he did allow an inherited run to score in the sixth. ... Reliever Chad Gaudin was not available because of lower-back soreness.