Wells falls apart early, and Pirates complete sweep of Cubs

Posted May 06, 2010 11:00 pm

By Bruce Miles

PITTSBURGH - The postgame comments were to the point after the Cubs were blasted 11-1 Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

And why not?

The Cubs were swept in three games, getting outscored 18-5 in the series and notching just 19 hits.

"It wasn't a good series, and today, it wasn't a very good game," said manager Lou Piniella. "Three errors. We didn't pitch good today. We didn't hit good. And we certainly didn't play good defense."

Asked if he said anything to the team, Piniella replied: "I'll say something tomorrow. What am I going say? What am I going to say? You should be able to look in the mirror pretty easy after something like this."

Starting pitcher Randy Wells, who came in 3-0 with an ERA of 3.45, exited at 3-1 with a 4.86 ERA after working only 2 innings. The Cubs committed 3 errors, and for a long stretch, they had more errors than basehits.

Wells threw 8 straight balls to start the game, putting two runners on and igniting a 5-run first inning for the Pirates. A 2-run double by Lastings Milledge capped the first, and the Pirates scored twice more on a double by Garrett Jones in the second.

Wells spoke, but he took no questions.

"It's terrible, unacceptable," he said. "Everything I've ever preached about why I'm successful, what I do to be successful, I totally got away from. I came in too cocky, too confident. Warming up in the bullpen, I don't think I missed a pitch. Laughing, joking around with Geo (catcher Geovany Soto) before the game.

"I went out there, you know, and was all out of whack. I let it get out of hand. When we needed a win the most to stop the bleeding, I got lackadaisical and wasn't on top of my game, and they (stuck it to him). It's pretty much all that happened."

There was more.

"It's time to get back to work and have a reality check and realize what my job is here, what my main focus is, and that's to win ballgames," Wells said. "All that other (bull), 3-0, pitching for the Chicago Cubs, doesn't mean (bleep). I'm here to win ballgames, and as far as I'm concerned, after tonight, I'm no better than anybody."

The Cubs fell to 13-16 and headed for Cincinnati to take on a Reds team that won't be a pushover, either.

Jeff Gray took over for Wells and gave up 3 hits and 4 runs (2 earned) in 2 innings. Five of the 6 Cubs hits were doubles, with Soto getting 2.

"It wasn't a very good night," said shortstop Ryan Theriot. "We've got to swing the bats better. I think we will. It's tough. But as professionals, you've still got to play hard, and you still got to execute no matter what the score is. Games are not over 'til it's over. Sometimes it lets a little air out.

"Guys are going to get going, and we'll be fine. Everybody's working hard. - Just got to stay positive and focus on the good things, and hopefully, it'll get going."

A Pittsburgh Pirates fan celebrates a three-game sweep of the Cubs during a baseball game in Pittsburgh Thursday, May 6, 2010. The Pirates won 11-1. Associated Press

Bruce Miles' game tracker

Error of their way: Third baseman Aramis Ramirez committed a throwing error in the second inning. In the fourth, he made a fielding error, as did shortstop Ryan Theriot. The 3 errors tied a season high for the Cubs.

No homer: The Pirates' Lastings Milledge thought he had a homer in the fourth, when music sounded and fireworks went off. Turns out, the ball hit the wall, and Milledge was tagged out trying to get back to second base. He got credit for a double.

Bucco buck-up: Pirates starting pitcher Brian Burres improved to 2-1, working 7 innings and limiting the Cubs to 3 hits and no runs.

Cubs scouting report

Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park

TV: Comcast SportsNet Friday and Saturday; Channel 9 Sunday

Radio: WGN 720-AM

Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Carlos Silva (2-0) vs. Homer Bailey (0-1) Friday at 6:10 p.m.; Tom Gorzelanny (1-3) vs. Aaron Harang (1-4) Saturday at 6:10 p.m.; Ryan Dempster (2-2) vs. Mike Leake (2-0) Sunday at 12:10 p.m.

At a glance: This already is the Cubs' second trip to Cincinnati. They went 1-2 there on the first trip of the season, leaving 25 runners stranded. The respective ERAs of the Cubs' starting pitchers for the series are 2.90, 2.48 and 2.95. Dusty Baker's Reds are 14-14. Against Harang, Xavier Nady is 10-for-27 with a homer. Alfonso Soriano is 8-for-18 with 3 homers. Dempster has held Brandon Phillips to 2-for-15 and Scott Rolen to 6-for-27. The Cubs entered Thursday fourth in OBP while the Reds were 14th. In ERA, the Cubs were seventh, at 3.97. The Reds were 14th, at 5.17. It's another series that appears to set up well for the Cubs, but only if they find a consistent offense.

Next: Florida Marlins at Wrigley Field, Monday-Wednesday

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