Ivy’s Cubs Game Round-Up, 9/7 to 9/12
Major League Baseball includes so many games in one season, but for someone that loves the game as much as I do, that time flies…it’s almost not enough. I. Want. More. This season has flown by, and how the Cubs have been playing, maybe that’s a good thing. Even though they suck, I don’t want to see this end. The Cubs have 19 games left including 2 more home stands and one road trip, and in case you were wondering there are 206 days left for the Cubs 2013 Home Opener 
This season isn’t quite over yet, so let’s look at how they did the last two series.
9/07 @ Pirates W 12-2
9/08 @ Pirates W 4-3
9/09 @ Pirates W 4-2
9/10 @ Astros W 4-1
9/11 @ Astros L 0-1
9/12 @ Astros W 5-1
@ Pirates
After a horrible start to the road trip, where they left Washington after a sweep, with a six-game losing streak and a bruised ego, they were able to turn things around with a sweep of their own. They defeated the Bucs in a decisive 12-2 win in game one. The Pirates committed seven errors which helped the Cubs grab the lead. I thought it would be another great performance by Pirates starter A.J. Burnett, who was 6-0 lifetime against the Cubs and had a 14 1/3 innings scoreless streak going this season against them. Travis Wood had lost his previous eight starts, but this was another good outing by Wood, who held the Pirates to one hit through six, while walking three and striking out five. Andrew McCutchen had some chances for some extra hits, but was robbed by two amazing defensive catches, one from Alfonso Soriano, and the other from Brett Jackson, who actually had to leave the game as he crashed into the left-center bullpen chain-link fence at full speed.
The second game of the series was all about Jeff Samardzija (9-13). He threw his first career complete game and first by a Cubs pitcher this season in his final start. Jeff is being shut down for the season because he’s reached his innings limit for the season. He threw 120 pitches, 81 for strikes while striking out nine to earn him his 17th. quality start, he finished with 174 2/3 innings pitched this season. Alfonso Soriano hit his 27th. home run and David DeJesus hit a tie-breaking RBI single in the eighth to back Samardzija and give the Cubs their first back-to-back wins on the road since July 23-24.
Cub fans have a love/hate relationship with Alfonso Soriano, but there is no denying that he’s had a great season, both offensively and defensively. Soriano hit a tie-breaking two-run home run in the eighth to give the Cubs the 4-2 victory on Sunday over the Pirates and complete the three-game series sweep. Josh Vitters and Anthony Recker also hit homers to help out the Cubs offense, they each hit a solo shot. With his homer, Vitters ended an 0-for-27 skid, and as for Anthony Recker, who was acquired from the A’s, that was his first Major League home run. Cubs rookie Chris Rusin was able to pitch a bit better after being roughed up by the Nationals in his last start when he gave up five runs in one inning. This game, he went five innings and gave up one run on five hits. Manny Corpas and James Russell would eventually give up the tying run but that set up Soriano’s homer that broke the tie. Soriano is closing in on 100 RBIs for the first time since 2005 and needs just one more homer to have 30 for this season; that my friends, isn’t too shabby. Defensively, he has shown so much improvement, making some great catches and just getting good jumps on balls. We’ll see whether or not this is Sori’s last season here, but I think we should cut this guy some slack. He has done a great job.
@ Astros
Houston and their problems are leaving the National League, possibly leaving the Cubs to remain as the worst team in the NL depending on how they play next season. A rebuilding process and September roster expansions give players a chance to prove that they deserve to be a part of the team. Dave Sappelt took advantage of that vs. the Astros in the first game of the series; Sappelt was called up from Triple-A Iowa on September 1st. He was acquired in a trade with the Reds last December, and on Monday he was accountable for all the runs, he drove in three runs and scored another. Chris Volstad allowed one run over five innings to earn his third win in his last four starts; Carlos Marmol pitched the ninth inning to record his 19th. save and 18th. in a row, he now boasts an ERA of 0.52 since May 2nd.
The Cubs were shut out for the first time since August 12th. They weren’t able to do much as they left 11 stranded in the game. Justin Germano and the bullpen pitched well enough to give the Cubs a chance to win. Germano allowed only one unearned run on three hits while striking out eight over five innings. This game had a scary collision between Anthony Rizzo and Astros first baseman Brett Wallace in the third inning. Rizzo exited the game but thankfully everything was ok and he only escaped with a bruised side and is now back in the lineup.
Travis Wood delivered another strong pitching performance in the third game of the series. He pitched 7 2/3 innings holding the Astros hitless through four; he allowed one run on four hits while striking out six and walking just one. Wood has a 2.43 ERA in 33 1/3 innings since August 22nd. Alfonso Soriano once again showed off with the bat and by flashing the leather. He robbed Matt Dominguez of extra bases. Dominguez hit a ball high to left field by the scoreboard but Soriano was able to leap to make the great catch. Soriano also hit his 29th. homer of the season and finished a triple shy of the cycle.This was the last series between these two in Houston as NL opponents. They aren’t done though; the Cubs will finish off the season playing the Astros at Wrigley Field on October 1st.-3rd.
Looking Ahead
The Cubs are starting a 10-game home stand, this is their second to last home stand of the 2012 season. They don’t have much to play for as a team, but mostly for whatever pride they can muster now. They will try to play spoiler though as they play a four game series against the Pirates, three against the Reds and three against the Cardinals.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs
Saturday September 15, 2012 @ 12:05 p.m. CT
Wandy Rodriguez, LHP (3-4, 3.57 ERA) vs. Jason Berken, RHP (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs
Sunday September 16, 2012 @ 1:20 p.m. CT
Jeff Locke, LHP (0-1, 4.11 ERA) vs. Chris Volstad, RHP (3-10, 5.99 ERA)
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs
Monday September 17, 2012 @ 7:05 p.m. CT
Kevin Correia, RHP (10-9, 4.29 ERA) vs. Travis Wood, LHP (6-11, 4.23 ERA)
Thank you so much for reading and as always, Go Cubs!
-Ivy