Same old, same old as Cubs just can't get it done

Posted June 06, 2010 11:00 pm

By Bruce Miles

HOUSTON - First things first for Randy Wells. Or first things worst.

Wells suffered through another bad first inning Sunday as the Cubs fell 6-3 to the Houston Astros. The Cubs fell to 25-31 overall and to 1-3 on the current road trip.

Sunday's first inning wasn't as bad as a couple of other beginnings for Wells this year. He faced seven Astros, giving up hits to the first five, including a 2-run homer by Carlos Lee.

On May 6 at Pittsburgh, the Pirates batted around, scoring 5 runs. Against the Cardinals on May 28, Wells gave up hits to all six batters he faced before being pulled.

"I'm going to sit down on the plane and talk to Larry about it," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella, talking about pitching coach Larry Rothschild.

Wells didn't see Sunday's first inning as part of any larger pattern.

Michael Bourn opened with a bunt single. Jeff Keppinger slapped a hit-and-run single to right. Lance Berkman singled to score 1, and Wells got help when right fielder Kosuke Fukudome threw out Keppinger at third. But then Lee homered, and Wells was down 3-0.

"I don't know, man, it's just the way it goes," said Wells, who is 3-4 with a 4.86 ERA. "I don't want to make excuses. I never have and never will. Look how the first inning started. A little bunt basehit. A little hit-and-run. A little dumper into right, a squeaky groundball into right field and all of a sudden, a run scores. The only bad pitch I made was to Lee.

"It's not like the first inning is like St. Louis or Pittsburgh. This is the last time I'm going to talk about those 2 starts, by the way. I mean, what do you want me to do? Yeah, there are some things I could have done different, but at the same time, I'm not walking guys. I'm not beating myself."

The Astros scored 3 more in the sixth to chase Wells. The Cubs' offense had a couple of chances against Brett Myers (4-3) but couldn't sustain anything.

Marlon Byrd led off the fourth with a double. One out later, Mike Fontenot singled to score Byrd, but Fontenot stayed at first as the throw went home. That proved pivotal when Koyie Hill doubled with two outs and Fontenot was tagged out at home.

"That play there was the result of not going to second on the overthrow from the outfield," Piniella said. "If you go to second on the overthrow from right field, you score easily on that ball."

The bright spot for the Cubs was rookie reliever Andrew Cashner, who relieved Wells and worked 12/3 perfect innings, reaching 98 mph on the radar gun. He soon could see eighth-inning duty.

"Yeah, we're going to put him in that role in the back end," Piniella said. "It looks like he's comfortable out there. He's throwing the ball good. We haven't had too much of that (high velocity). It's nice to get a good young arm. He's gotten some experience. Next time out, we'll put him back toward the end of the ballgame."

Bruce Miles' game tracker

Not Wells: Cubs starting pitcher Randy Wells has not earned a win since April 30. Sunday's loss was his fourth in a row. He lasted 51/3 innings, giving up 9 hits and 6 runs. He threw 92 pitches.

Big-time backup: Backup catcher Koyie Hill made his second straight start. He extended his hitting streak to six games by going 1-for-4 with an RBI double in the fourth. He's 7-for-21 in the streak.

Byrd is the word: Center fielder Marlon Byrd singled leading off the second and doubled leading off the fourth. He scored 2 runs and picked up his team-leading 22nd multihit game.

Scouting report

Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park

TV: Comcast SportsNet

Radio: WGN 720-AM

Pitching matchup: The Cubs' Carlos Silva (7-0) vs. Dana Eveland (0-0), Monday at 11:35 a.m.

At a glance: This is a makeup of Wednesday's rainout in Pittsburgh. Silva has not started since May 29, when he beat the Cardinals 5-0 and struck out 11. The Cubs are 1-7 against the Pirates this year and 0-5 at PNC. Eveland is a lefty, so Cubs manager Lou Piniella may go with a right-handed hitting lineup, including Xavier Nady in right field. Silva is looking to become the first Cubs starter to open a season 8-0 since Ken Holtzman in 1967. Silva has not faced the Pirates since 2003.

Next: Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park, Tuesday-Thursday

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