Astros prevail in 12, and Lilly's still a Cub
There were no nostalgic last looks around Wrigley Field for Ted Lilly.
If there were, he might have spotted a whole lot of Cubs baserunners going absolutely nowhere.
Such was the case again Wednesday, as the Cubs dropped a 4-3 decision to the Houston Astros in 12 innings. One day after scoring 14 runs, the Cubs left 16 on base including 10 over the last five innings.
"If we'd have got all the guys we left on today (in), we'd have scored 14 today," said manager Lou Piniella, whose team dropped two of three to the Astros and fell to 43-53 for the season. "We just didn't get them in."
As far as Lilly goes, he may have made his last start as a Cub in Wrigley Field. Despite a record of 3-8, he has a record of 3.88 and is one of the few commodities general manager Jim Hendry can move without having to worry about a bad contract.
Lilly entered the game having received just 2.51 runs of support, the lowest mark in the major leagues. He took a 1-0 lead into the eighth before giving up a pinch homer to Pedro Feliz that tied the game.
Despite the swirling rumors, Lilly appears unfazed.
"No, I'm not going to put a whole lot into that," said Lilly, an impending free agent. "I've said this before, especially right now: I've got my hands full trying to win games."
Lilly has pitched for contending Cubs teams, including two division winners in his first three years in Chicago. That might be appealing to him again but it likely will have to happen elsewhere with the Cubs buried in the standings.
"Definitely," he said. "First and foremost, you'd like to do that here. It's going to be tough. I don't have a feeling one way or another (about the rumors). Obviously, there's a lot of speculation and rumors that are thrown out there. My experience is that they don't necessarily mean something's going to happen."
Lilly's catcher, Koyie Hill, said he appreciates Lilly's professionalism.
"He's as mentally strong as anybody I've played with," Hill said. "I think he'll tell you at times he'll think about it (trade talk). Does he think about it when he's out there? I highly doubt it. I know he's close with a lot of guys on the team. He's a guy you enjoy seeing at the ballpark every day."
While Lilly was working 71/3 innings of 1-run ball, Astros starter Brett Myers gave up 5 hits and 1 run in 7. The Cubs went ahead 1-0 in the fifth. Lilly singled with one out and scored from first on Starlin Castro's two-out double to left.
From there, the Cubs left one runner on in the eighth, two in the ninth, three in the 10th, two in the 11th and two in the 12th.
The Astros broke through in the 12th, scoring 2 off Bob Howry and 1 off Jeff Stevens. The Cubs rallied from down 4-1 in the bottom of the 12 on Geovany Soto's 2-run homer, but Tyler Colvin lined out to right to end the game with two aboard.
Lilly didn't seem comforted by talk that he kept his team in the game long enough to win it.
"I do put a lot of stock in winning; that's the goal," he said. "My perspective is I threw the ball a little better than I have the last few starts, but maybe not as good as the results indicated. I made a bad pitch to Pedro Feliz. I feel I lost us the game. If I get through that inning and get the ball to (closer Carlos) Marmol in the ninth, I like our chances."
<p class="factboxheadblack">Bruce Miles' game tracker</p>
<p class="News">Astros 4, Cubs 3 (12 innings)</p>
<p class="News"><b>Wasted quality:</b> Ted Lilly turned in the Cubs' 60th quality start, working 71/3 innings and giving up 7 hits and 1 run. The Cubs are just 33-27 in quality-start games, with the starters having an ERA of 2.19 in those starts.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Double his pleasure:</b> Rookie shortstop Starlin Castro had an RBI double in the fifth and another double in the 10th. He has hit safely in eight of his last nine games, going 17-for-37 (. 459) in that time. His season hitting line is .296/.349/.425.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Bad inning:</b> Cubs reliever Bob Howry gave up a pair of singles to start the 12th inning. Astros pinch hitter Jason Michaels hit a 2-run double off Jeff Stevens, and Angel Sanchez followed with an RBI single. </p>
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