Silva doesn't make it past first inning in loss
Maybe the Cubs can take some small solace in all those empty seats at Wrigley Field - there's no longer as many people at the Friendly Confines to boo.
The announced 35,514 on hand Monday night to witness the Cubs' 11-5 loss to Houston certainly had plenty of chances to voice their displeasure, starting early with Carlos Silva's second straight awful outing and continuing with Alfonso Soriano's baserunning.
The Astros scored 4 runs before Silva retired a batter. One of the few Cubs bright spots this year with a 9-4 record, Silva has lasted a total of 21/3 innings in his last 2 starts.
After being ejected in the second inning against Los Angeles on July 11, Silva worked 1 ugly inning Monday. He has allowed 11 runs and 13 hits in those 21/3 innings.
That forced manager Lou Piniella to go to his bullpen early, and the Astros - last in the majors with a .236 batting average - responded with 17 hits against four Cubs pitchers.
"Silva - I don't have an explanation," Piniella said. "He's not as sharp as he was earlier, that's for sure. We've got to get him straightened out."
Bothered by a calf injury earlier this year, Silva said he is fine physically.
"You are still human, you know," Silva said. "These days are going to happen."
Michael Bourn and Angel Sanchez singled to start the game. Silva began to lose his cool when he walked Lance Berkman, visibly upset after home-plate umpire Tony Randazzo called a ball on both his 2-2 and 3-2 pitches.
Hunter Pence and Carlos Lee followed with 2-run hits. The fifth run scored on a double-play grounder before Silva again loaded the bases, allowing singles to No. 8 hitter Jason Castro and pitcher Wandy Rodriguez.
A leaping stab and throw to first by Starlin Castro finally ended the 18-minute, 11-batter, 7-hit, 5-run first - and, as it turned out, ended Silva's night.
"He struggled in that first inning," Piniella said. "He wasn't going to go much further in that ballgame."
Jason Castro, entering the game hitting .170, launched a 3-run home run off Mitch Atkins into the basket in right field to make it 8-0 in the third. While Atkins didn't allow anything else over his season-high 4 innings of relief, the damage was too much for the Cubs' fairly lively bats to overcome.
"Our offense tried to hit us back in the game, but we just gave up too many runs," Piniella said.
The Cubs hit the ball hard against Rodriguez. Marlon Byrd and Soriano just missed home runs in the fourth, then Tyler Colvin and Aramis Ramirez connected for homers in the sixth - the 13th for Colvin.
But Soriano was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double with the Cubs down 8-5 in the sixth.
"We got off to a tough start," Colvin said. "It's one game, and we will come back."
The Astros' bullpen silenced the Cubs over the final 3 innings, dampening any momentum the Cubs had after winning three of four from Philadelphia following the all-star break.
Piniella said the Cubs might make a roster move Tuesday to get another pitcher. He also said with a day off Thursday the Cubs could skip Silva's next start.
"I'm going to talk to (pitching coach) Larry (Rothschild) about it tonight," Piniella said. "If (Silva) needs a little more work in the bullpen we can do that."
<p class="factboxheadblack">John Lemon's game tracker</p>
<p class="News">Astros 11, Cubs 5</p>
<p class="News"><b>Slamming southpaws:</b> The Cubs entered the game leading the NL with a .278 average against left-handers. Tyler Colvin and Aramis Ramirez homered, Derrek Lee doubled twice, and the Cubs plated 5 runs in six innings against Astros lefty Wandy Rodriguez. But it wasn't enough to deny Rodriguez his fourth win in his last 5 starts.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Houston, we have a problem:</b> The Astros might be struggling along at 38-55, but Monday's victory put them at 5-2 against the Cubs. Houston is doing its best Pittsburgh impression - the 32-60 Pirates are 9-3 against the Cubs.</p>
<p class="News"><b>E-6:</b> Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro had not made an error since July 6 before committing 2 in the sixth inning. He has 14 this year.</p>
<div class="infoBox">
<h1>More Coverage</h1>
<div class="infoBoxContent">
<div class="infoArea">
<h2>Stories</h2>
<ul class="links">
<li><a href="/story/?id=395122">Second straight struggle for Silva<span class="date"> [7/19/10]</span></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>