Stubbs' 3 HRs lead Cincinnati to another rout of Cubs

Posted July 04, 2010 11:00 pm

By Mike Spellman

When you give up 4 home runs and 9 runs in a game, you don't figure to be a happy camper.

Fair to say Cubs starter Ted Lilly was not a happy camper following Sunday's 14-3 loss to Cincinnati, particularly after the Reds scored 8 runs in the seventh inning to blow things open - all of them coming after Lilly had retired the first two batters.

"There were hanging sliders, changeups that were left up, too many balls that were center cut," Lilly said. "It's really upsetting to go out there and be in a position for us to possibly tie the game or even go ahead - and then have an inning like that with two outs.

"I won't forget that one for a while."

Neither will the sellout crowd, who gave Lilly's replacement, Jeff Stevens, mock cheers when he actually threw a strike. Stevens faced six batters in the inning and allowed 4 runs.

"It got ugly at the end again," manager Lou Piniella said. "Some of these kids, boy, they can't finish innings."

The 4 home runs in the seventh were the most allowed by the Cubs in an inning since May 7, 2008, at Cincinnati. The 7 home runs in the game were the most by the Cubs' pitching staff since the Reds turned the trick on July 10, 2008.

"They were having fun, for sure," Lilly said of the Reds. "We were doing our part to help them - from a pitching standpoint."

While the Reds brought the M-80s to Sunday's Fourth of July festivities, the Cubs brought only sparklers.

"They hit 7 home runs," Piniella said. "You would think we could get a few balls into the air and ride out of here, but the only guy who did was (Tyler) Colvin (2 HRs)."

It was the first multi-homer game recorded by the rookie outfielder.

"It doesn't really matter, we lost the game," Colvin said. "I'd like to do that in a win; maybe I'd get excited about it."

But wins have been elusive for the Cubs (35-47), who came into Sunday's series finale looking to win consecutive games for the first time since mid-June against Oakland.

Even more telling, since winning two straight series May 21-27, the Cubs have gone 1-10 in their last 11 series.

"You have to take it one series at a time," center fielder Marlon Byrd said. "We haven't been doing that at all. That's why we're in the position we are.

"A four-game series, we're winning one. A three-game series, we're winning one. That's not going to get it done."

Tyler Colvin watches his two-run home run in the second inning. Paul Beaty | Staff Photographer

Mike Spellman's game tracker

What's my line: For Cubs starter Ted Lilly, uh, not so good. He surrendered a career-high-tying 9 runs on a career-high 11 hits, including a season-high 4 home runs.

Wally Pipp-ish: After Reds first baseman Joey Votto was ejected for arguing a called third strike in the first inning, all replacement Paul Janish did was go 4-for-4 with a home run and 3 RBI.

Rosy Colvin: Tyler Colvin had the first multi-homer game by a Cubs rookie since Micah Hoffpauir on Sept. 25, 2008, at the Mets.

Unlucky sevens: The Cubs gave up 4 homers in the seventh, continuing a series-long trend. The Reds scored 17 of their 30 runs in the series in the seventh inning.

Branching out: Reds center fielder Drew Stubbs put on a power display with 3 home runs off three different Cubs pitchers and drove in 5 runs.

Cubs scouting report

Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field

TV: Comcast SportsNet Monday and Tuesday; Channel 9 Wednesday

Radio: WGN 720-AM

Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Tom Gorzelanny (2-5) vs. Ian Kennedy (3-6) Monday at 3:10 p.m.; Carlos Silva (8-2) vs. Barry Enright (1-0) Tuesday at 8:40 p.m.; Ryan Dempster (6-7) vs. Edwin Jackson (6-6) Wednesday at 8:40 p.m.

At a glance: A franchise-record 6 errors en route to a 14-1 loss on Saturday? No, it wasn't the Cubs. It was Arizona, who, despite having a new manager (Kirk Gibson) and a new general manager, still are fighting it out with the Pirates and the Astros for worst record in the National League. - Chris Young will be the lone D'backs representative at the All-Star Game.

Next: Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, Thursday-Sunday

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