Cubs' hitting woes contagious

CINCINNATI - During the Cubs' current losing streak, they've wasted some quality starts by their pitchers.

They didn't have to worry about that Friday night in a 10-2 loss to the Reds.

In fact, there wasn't much quality anything in this one for the Cubs.

Starting pitcher Ted Lilly lasted only 2 innings, losing for the fourth time to the Reds this season. And the hitters continued their collective slump, picking up 6 hits, 4 of them infield singles.

It all added up to the Cubs' sixth loss in a row.

"It's been a struggle here over the past half-a-dozen games or so to put runs on the board," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella, whose team fell to 85-56. "Then when your pitching is not good, it gets ugly like it did tonight."

This one was over pretty much before it started. Lilly gave up a 2-run homer to Joey Votto in the first inning. It was Votto's 18th homer and his eighth against the Cubs.

The Reds scored three times in the second, sending eight men to the plate.

"I didn't make pitches," said Lilly, who fell to 13-9. "This is probably my most disappointing start of the year, especially given the case that I had a little more motivation to go out there and win this one given the circumstances over the last five days."

Lilly humorously noted that he wasn't sure if pitch location was the biggest problem.

"I wish I could say that was the only thing," he said. "I think there was a combination of a few things. I'll say location, the ability to throw quality off-speed stuff. I didn't get ahead in the count.

"I guess there's not a whole lot to say because I wasn't out there very long."

The Reds put it away in the fourth, when Jay Bruce hit a grand slam off Jon Lieber, who gave up 4 homers in 1 inning at this ballpark on May 7.

But just as vexing for Piniella is what has happened to the offense.

The Cubs have been outscored 36-14 during the losing streak. The power has vanished, too. In the last two games, the Cubs have 12 hits. Eleven have been singles, 7 in the infield.

"We're going to have to swing the bats better, there's no question about that," Piniella said. "I don't know where the offense has gone. I really don't. How about some balls in the gaps, some balls lined here and there, good at-bats?

"Look, these guys are trying. I've got no complaints from that standpoint. The truth of the matter is that you've got to get it done."

The Cubs had hoped to fatten up against the Reds, who improved to 63-78, but it wasn't the case Friday.

"That's not what we expected," Piniella said. "Lilly really didn't have his good stuff. And then they added 4 more quick ones, and the game was out of reach before we got to the midway point."

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=233113">Piniella hits Cincy by way of Cleveland <span class="date"> [9/6/08]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=233112">Zambrano addresses 'my friends, the media' <span class="date"> [9/6/08]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>