Cubs just can't swing a sweep as Cards eke one out in extras

Posted July 25, 2010 11:00 pm

By Bruce Miles

This game may have been the tipping point.

If the Cubs had swept the weekend series with the St. Louis Cardinals, they may have considered themselves right back in the NL Central race.

But a 4-3 loss in 11 innings Sunday night at Wrigley Field put the Cubs back to 10 games behind the Cardinals. The Cubs had their chances late, leaving the bases loaded in the 10th, but rookie reliever Brian Schlitter gave up a two-out solo homer to St. Louis' Felipe Lopez in the 11th, and the Cardinals salvaged the final game of the series.

With the nonwaiver trading deadline this coming Saturday, it appears general manager Jim Hendry will try to move as many manageable contracts as possible, with left-hander Ted Lilly at the top of several teams' wish list.

The Cubs have kept the faith, but even they're finding it hard to believe this team will stay together as is.

"I love our team, and I love the guys in that locker room," said pitcher Ryan Dempster, who started Sunday and worked 7 innings. "I think we've been playing a lot better. Unfortunately, we dug ourselves a big hole, but since the all-star break, we've been playing really good baseball. We've been scoring a bunch of runs. For the most part, we've been pitching well.

"But I understand there's a side to everything. There's a trade deadline coming up. Whatever it ends up being, it ends up being, but I like what we got in there right now. Whatever it ends up being two weeks from now is just fine, too."

The Cardinals broke on top of Dempster in the second. Jon Jay opened with a triple to right-center. Skip Schumaker singled home Jay, and two outs later, pitcher Chris Carpenter singled home the second run.

The Cubs got a run back in the fourth against ace Chris Carpenter on Marlon Byrd's RBI single and went ahead in the fifth, getting a run-scoring triple to right-center from Ryan Theriot and a two-out RBI single by Starlin Castro. Albert Pujols tied the game at 3-3 when he led off the sixth with his 23rd homer of the season, a drive to left field.

The Cubs had chances in both the ninth and 10th innings but could not get the winning run home against Ryan Franklin.

"Those basehits, with men on base," said manager Lou Piniella, whose team fell to 45-54. "We won the series, but when you're behind like we are, it would have been much nicer to win all three. Put it that way."

Corralled in the locker room afterward, Lilly said he has been apprised "to some degree" by the Cubs, but that he doesn't know how things will turn out.

"At this point, I'm preparing to pitch on Tuesday," he said. "My heart is still here with these guys."

Cubs catcher Geovany Soto tags out St. Louis Cardinals' Skip Schumaker during the sixth inning. Associated Press

Bruce Miles' game tracker

Dempster doings: Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster recorded the team's 63rd quality start of the season, working 7 innings and giving up 9 hits and 3 runs. Cubs starters have a 2.22 ERA in quality-start games.

Marshall plan: Sean Marshall tossed a scoreless inning of relief for the Cubs. He has shut out the opponent in his last 10 appearances and in 17 of his last 18.

Unhappy return: Park Ridge native Brian Schlitter made his first appearance since July 2 as he was on the disabled list. He gave up an 11th-inning homer to Felipe Lopez.

Cubs scouting report

Cubs vs. Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park

TV: Comcast SportsNet Monday and Wednesday; Channel 9 Tuesday

Radio: WGN 720-AM

Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Carlos Silva (9-4) vs. Wesley Wright (0-0) Monday at 7:05 p.m.; Ted Lilly (3-8) vs. Brett Myers (7-6) Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.; Randy Wellos (5-7) vs. Bud Norris (2-7) Wednesday at 1:05 p.m.

At a glance: The Astros beat the Reds 4-0 Sunday to improve to 40-58. The Cubs are just 3-6 against Houston this year, 1-2 at Minute Maid Park. Silva lasted just 1 inning against the Astros last Monday at Wrigley Field, and that came after he went just 12/3 against the Dodgers on July 11. The Astros entered Sunday 15th in runs scored and dead last in several offensive categories.

Next: Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, Friday-Sunday

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