Not best of nights for Marquis
ST. LOUIS -- The Cubs seem to be into fix-it projects these days.
They've already sent pitcher Rich Hill out for more work at Class AAA Iowa, and they've proclaimed Ted Lilly pretty much over his problems.
And then there's Jason Marquis.
The up-and-down right-hander had one of his "down" performances Sunday night in a 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
For his second straight start, Marquis (1-2) lasted only 5 innings while giving up 5 runs. His ERA shot up from 4.45 to 5.08.
But here's another key indicator of how Marquis is performing. By walking five batters and allowing 7 hits, he has yielded 43 hits and 15 walks in 33¿ innings. That translates to a WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) of a feverish 1.72.
"He's not throwing the ball as well early this year as he did last," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella, whose team lost two of three and fell to 18-13. "We've got some work to do here with our pitching. It's been a little bit of a struggle.
"It goes to show you that what you think is going to be a big strength is an area you need work in."
Speaking of work, Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild has put in countless hours with Marquis, even before the Cubs signed him to a three-year, $21 million contract before last season. How does Marquis see it?
"Just go back to the basics," he said. "Get ahead with my sinker. Tonight I fell behind in the count too many times."
Things did not begin well for Marquis against his former team. He threw 22 pitches in the first inning, but only 8 for strikes. He walked three and got out of trouble when first baseman Derrek Lee snagged a line drive smoked by Chris Duncan.
The Cubs handed Marquis a 2-0 lead in the second. Geovany Soto led off with a double, and Mike Fontenot walked. Reed Johnson stroked an RBI double to left, and Alfonso Soriano hit a sacrifice fly.
Marquis gave both runs back in the bottom of the inning. Cards pitcher Todd Wellemeyer (3-1), a former Cub, singled with one out and went to second on a single by ex-Cub Cesar Izturis. Skip Shumaker and Adam Kennedy followed with run-scoring singles.
The bottom of the St. Louis order started a 2-run, fourth-inning rally. Izturis singled with one out. After Schumaker grounded out, Marquis kept things going by walking Kennedy, with the dangerous Albert Pujols coming up.
Marquis retired Pujols his first two times up, but not this time. Pujols drove a double to left field, giving the Cardinals a 4-2 lead.
"It's usually not a pretty good idea to walk Kennedy to get to Pujols," Piniella said.
The Cardinals chased Marquis in the sixth, when they added their final run.
The Cubs' offense has been hit or miss lately. After loading the bases with nobody out in the seventh, the Cubs got only 1 run, on a sacrifice fly by Kosuke Fukudome. Before that, Lee flied out. Mark DeRosa ended the inning with a flyout.
The Cubs were without third baseman Aramis Ramirez (wrist injury) for a second straight day.
"Guys like myself, D-Lee, we didn't hit the ball," DeRosa said. "I didn't hit the ball all series. When Aramis is out of the lineup, guys have to step up."
Cardinals 5, Cubs 3
At the plate: Reed Johnson doubled home a run. Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome hit sacrifice flies. Mike Fontenot walked twice and doubled. He has been on base in 13 of his last 17 games.
On the mound: Jason Marquis gave up 7 hits and 5 runs in 5 innings. He walked five and struck out four, throwing 89 pitches, 50 for strikes.