Aaarrrgggh!! Cubs just can't beat Pirates
There's one thing that hasn't changed about these new, energized Cubs: They still can't beat the Pittsburgh Pirates.
That held true again Monday night as the Pirates walked into Wrigley Field riding a 17-game losing streak on the road and beat the Cubs 2-1. The Cubs are 2-8 against Pittsburgh this year.
"They've got some good players over there," said Cubs starting pitcher Randy Wells, who slogged through 6 innings of 1-run ball. "Tough outs. I think they're probably in the same boat we are. It comes down to you've got to win games, and you've got to win them now."
If the Cubs and the Pirates are in the same boat, it's a ship that's sinking fast. Pittsburgh is 26-50, while the Cubs fell to 33-43 and back to 91/2 games behind Dusty Baker's Cincinnati Reds.
Cubs manager Lou Piniella threw up his arms when asked about an offense that was 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranded.
"We had chances," Piniella said. "We had chances."
The Cubs scored once in the second but left two, and Wells allowed his run in the third on an RBI triple by Andrew McCutchen after one of his 4 walks.
Things got bad for the Cubs' bullpen in more ways than one.
Lefty John Grabow had to leave the game in the seventh inning after suffering a recurrence of the sprained left knee that had him on the disabled list for half of this month.
"It feels worse than ever," said Grabow, who will go on the disabled list Tuesday as the Cubs bring up either James Russell or perhaps John Gaub.
Andrew Cashner suffered the loss after putting runners on in the ninth. Carlos Marmol gave up a run-scoring double to Jose Tabata.
"Let me tell you what happens today," Piniella said. "We're one pitcher short, and then we get one pitcher hurt. This game goes 12 innings, I don't know. (Sean) Marshall's pitched in five out of six days, and we've got (Bob) Howry down there.
"That's why we double switched when we brought in Marmol. We tried to get one more inning out of Cashner."
The Cubs had a chance in the ninth against Octavio Dotel. Aramis Ramirez was hit by a pitch leading off. After Alfonso Soriano and Geovany Soto struck out, Piniella brought in Xavier Nady to pinch hit for Starlin Castro. Nady also struck out.
"You've got a veteran player who can hit the ball out of the ballpark as opposed to a young kid," Piniella said. "I think the matchup was the right one. It just didn't work."
<p class="factboxheadblack">Bruce Miles' game tracker</p>
<p class="News"><b>All's Wells:</b> Randy Wells turned in the Cubs' 48th quality start. He worked 6 innings, giving up 3 hits and 1 run.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Good debut:</b> Park Ridge native Brian Schlitter made his major-league debut in the seventh. He struck out the only two batters he faced, Paul Maholm and Jose Tabata. Schlitter's fastball clocked in the mid-90s (mph). "It was a little overwhelming, but coming into that situation, I really didn't have time to let my emotions get the best of me," Schlitter said.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Bucco buck-up:</b> Pirates lefty Paul Maholm (5-6) tossed a season-high 8 innings, giving up 1 run on 7 hits.</p>
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