Cards come out swinging, Cubs go down quickly
Right from the get-go Friday, the Cubs looked like anything but serious contenders in the National League Central.
They fell 7-1 to the St. Louis Cardinals before a less-than-capacity crowd of 39,536 at Wrigley Field. There was plenty of bad to go around as this game was over almost as soon as it started.
To wit:
• Starting pitcher Randy Wells faced only six batters, giving up hits to each as the Cardinals jumped to a 5-0 lead in the first inning.
• The Cubs ran themselves out a first-inning chance when Derrek Lee was called out on strikes as Kosuke Fukudome was caught stealing at third base, with Ryan Theriot moving to second. The Cubs did not score.
• Cubs batters had some quick at-bats against Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter (6-1). Alfonso Soriano, Marlon Byrd and Geovany Soto made 3 outs on 3 pitches to end the sixth inning and start the seventh.
It was hardly the statement the Cubs needed to make as they fell to 23-26 while St. Louis improved to 28-21.
"Win the series," the forward-looking Byrd said. "Not just the Cardinals. You have to win within your division to actually make a run. It's one of those things where they come in and win the first game. You've got to come back out the next two and try to take the series."
The Cubs had high hopes with Wells (3-3, 479 ERA) on the mound and the wind blowing straight in at 15 mph. But in a matter of 16 pitches it was all over for Wells: single by Felipe Lopez, double by Ryan Ludwick, single by Albert Pujols, single by Matt Holliday, single by Colby Rasmus and double by Yadier Molina.
"There's not a whole lot to say about this game," said Wells, who was battling a head-and-chest cold. "I went back and looked at the tapes. I was up a little bit in the zone.
"I'm pretty embarrassed. A lot of friends watching. That's not the way you want to start a series with a team like St. Louis. Just one of them days. You just got to wear it."
True, the Cubs were facing a good pitcher in Carpenter, but they were 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
They had a shot early to get back into the game and bring the crowd to life when Fukudome and Theriot opened the first with singles. But the strikeout double play seemed to take the air out of everything.
"Stay out of a double play, and we ran into one," said manager Lou Piniella, who was trying to avoid a groundout double play.
If there were any bright spots, rookie James Russell tossed 4 innings of scoreless long relief. Carlos Zambrano worked a scoreless inning, and rookie Tyler Colvin homered in the fifth as a pinch hitter.
"Today we ran into a good pitcher," Piniella said. "We've still got two games, (Saturday) and Sunday. What we need is a good game from (pitcher Carlos) Silva. Start with that, and put some runs on the board."
Bruce Miles' game tracker Cardinals 7, Cubs 1All's not Wells: Cubs starting pitcher Randy Wells did not retire a batter, as he gave up 6 straight hits. Wells threw only 16 pitches, and he could be available out of the bullpen Sunday if the Cubs need him. He became the first Cubs starter since Geremi Gonzalez in April 1998 not to record an out to begin a game. Making his case: Rookie left-hander James Russell saved the bullpen by tossing 4 scoreless innings of relief. He threw 56 pitches and gave up 2 hits. Russell has ben solid all year, and he could be safe next week when the Cubs are likely to call up either Andrew Cashner or Jay Jackson from Class AAA Iowa. Slumping hitters: Starlin Castro broke an 0-for-17 skid with a single in the seventh. Marlon Byrd was 0-for-4, and his batting average has fallen to .299.False334512Cubs pinch hitter Tyler Colvin hits a home run during the fifth inning.Associated PressFalse