Wood pitches well again but takes loss
ST. LOUIS — Chicago Cubs starter Travis Wood seems to keep pitching better every outing. He just has very little to show for it.
Wood (5-6) dropped his third straight start Monday night in St. Louis, as he came out on the short end of a 5-2 score. He allowed seven hits and four runs in seven innings.
The loss was the third straight for Wood, despite the fact that he has a 2.70 ERA in 20 innings of work in those three contests.
“Just wasn’t enough really,” Wood said. “I felt like I was making pitches and keeping them off balance pretty good. They got to me there in the fourth. They hit some good pitches and they did what they did. They’re a good ballclub over there.”
Chicago’s offense has been dormant while Wood is pitching. The Cubs have scored nine runs in Wood’s six losses.
“He threw another good game,” said Chicago manager Dale Sveum. “It’s a stellar outing for seven. He pitched really good again against the best offense in baseball.”
Chicago fell to 8-22 against the National League Central, the lowest winning percentage by any team in its own division (. 266). The Cubs are 5-23 when they score three runs or less,
“It’s tough for the team,” Wood said. “We’re scratching and clawing trying to get everything we can right now and trying to put together quality ball games.
“We’re falling a little short right now, but it’s a good group of guys. We’re going to eventually get it together and string together some wins.”