Kosuke comes through in the clutch as Cubs take series

Posted June 17, 2010 11:00 pm

By Bruce Miles

Randy Wells said he could see it coming.

That's why he begged manager Lou Piniella to stay in the ballgame in the seventh inning despite his pitch count approaching 130 and the Cubs being down 2-1 to the Oakland Athletics after a homer that inning by Mark Ellis.

Wells didn't get rewarded with a personal "W," but the Cubs walked off with a 3-2 victory in the bottom of the ninth on Kosuke Fukudome's single to right field through a drawn-in infield to score Geovany Soto with the winning run.

"I kind of begged him to stay in there; I had a good feeling we were going to win the game - I had a good feeling that if I got that last out, we were going to come back. I told him I was going to win the game. Obviously, it didn't happen, but give me a chance."

The Cubs improved to 30-36 with their second straight victory, giving them their first series win since they took two of three from the Dodgers in late May.

So what accounted for Wells' good feeling?

"Just the way the guys were focused," he said. "Usually, when you find yourself in a tie ballgame or when you're down, something as deflating like a home run like that, teams get quiet. But the whole game, we were battling."

It was a big day for three guys who've had to battle through some adversity of late:

• Wells still hasn't posted a victory since April 30, but he talked with Cubs assistant Greg Maddux and watched tapes with pitching coach Larry Rothschild to fix some first-inning woes. He allowed a leadoff double to Rajai Davis, but a diving catch by Marlon Byrd to end the inning kept the A's off the board.

• Ryan Theriot, who has been beaten up lately over his low on-base percentage, walked in the ninth to load the bases for Fukudome.

• And Fukudome has seen his playing time reduced, as Tyler Colvin and Xavier Nady have been getting the time in right field. After his big hit, Fukudome's teammates mobbed him.

"I didn't do anything special," he said of staying ready off the bench. "I was just trying to do the best I can when I got the chance."

Wells settled in nicely after the 20-pitch first and didn't give up a run until Davis' RBI single in the fifth. Ellis led off the seventh with his homer, but Wells was able to finish. After fighting first innings for so long, he looked relieved to post a quality start.

"Throughout all this, just keep going back and going to my strengths," said Wells. "When that wasn't working, that's when I finally sought some advice.

"When that keeps happening, you kind of reach out to people. I called Maddux and asked for some friendly advice. And then I went to Larry with what I had talked to Greg about and asked what he thought. Before I could get a word out of my mouth, he took me to the video room, and said, 'Hey, this is what's happening: The fastballs are flat, the ball's not sinking despite the changeups.' All that comes from falling toward the plate and not getting back over the rubber."

The Cubs' first run came on a homer by Jeff Baker in the first. Fukudome pinch hit in the eighth and eventually scored on Xavier Nady's sacrifice fly. A's left Jerry Blevins issued walks in the ninth to Soto, Koyie Hill (intentional) and Theriot.

"I just wanted to be aggressive with runners in scoring position," Theriot said. "But he walked Geo early. It's hard for pitchers, I think, after intentional walks to come back and lock in and throw strikes. I've always felt that's a hard thing to go. Your arm angle changes a little bit. In that case, just a little bit more patient, and I was able to get the walk for Fuky. What a big hit, a huge hit."

Kosuke Fukudome pumps his fist after driving in the winning run with an RBI single in the ninth inning off A's reliever Jerry Blevins, right. Associated Press

Bruce Miles' game tracker

Cubs 3, Athletics 2

Pitch counting: Cubs starter Randy Wells threw a career-high 129 pitches in 7 innings. He earned his seventh quality start. The Cubs are 23-18 in quality-start games, and the starters have a 2.14 ERA in those starts.

Flying Byrd: Center fielder Marlon Byrd made yet another diving catch, this time in the first to rob Matt Suzuki of a hit and strand a runner on second. "I ain't going to lie; it was huge," Wells said.

Not perfect, but good: A's lefty Dallas Braden, who tossed a perfect game earlier this year, also turned in a quality start, going 6 innings and giving up 5 hits and a homer to Jeff Baker. Ex-Cub Michael Wuertz gave up 2 hits and a run in one-third of an inning. Former Cubs farmhand Jerry Blevins took the loss, with 3 walks in the ninth.

Cubs scouting report

Cubs vs. Los Angeles Angels at Wrigley Field

TV: Comcast SportsNet Friday; Channel 9 Saturday and Sunday

Radio: WGN 720-AM

Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Carlos Silva (8-1) vs. Scott Kazmir (6-5) Friday at 1:20 p.m.; Ted Lilly (2-5) vs. Jered Weaver (6-3) Saturday at 12:05 p.m.; Carlos Zambrano vs. Joe Saunders (5-7) Sunday at 1:20 p.m.

At a glance: This is the Angels' first visit to Wrigley Field. The Cubs played at Anaheim in 2004. The clubs see each other in spring training as they train within a few miles of each other. The Angels have played better of late, and they trailed Texas by 2 games in the AL West entering Thursday. Bobby Abreu is 11-for-20 with a homer off Silva, the former Mariner. Silva has held Torii Hunter to 3-for-13. Former AL player Marlon Byrd is 7-for-22 vs. Weaver. The Cubs entered Thursday 13th in the NL in runs scored, 11th in walks and 11th in on-base percentage.

Next: Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field, Tuesday-Thursday

- Bruce Miles

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