Cubs lose 3-0 to Reds, but Brooks Raley makes an impression on Sveum

The Cubs lost 3-0 to the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on Sunday afternoon.  They have now lost 11 of their last 12 games since the trade deadline passed on July 31st, averaging 2.4 runs per game since.

Cubs manager Dale Sveum said, "You can say what you want, but our starters have actually done a pretty good job since the Trade Deadline.  We've just stopped hitting." 

Rookie left-handed pitcher Brooks Raley made his second start for the Cubs and retired the first 13 hitters he faced and left the game after six innings trailing 3-0.

Left handed starter Brooks Raley pitched well against the Reds on Sunday (photo from cubs.com)

Even though the Cubs lost the game, Sveum spoke highly of Raley and said, "He did a great job.  A couple of fly balls went out, and they weren't even hit that good.  He kept the ball down with movement.  He had a lot of life on the ball.  He did far and above what we wanted."

Raley said, "In the five days between starts I got to watch the older guys, see what they do.  The biggest thing I saw them do was throw strike one, getting ahead, working down (in the strike zone)."

Well, I'm glad to see that at least the starting pitching hasn't been the issue since the Cubs traded Ryan Dempster and Paul Maholm and Matt Garza has been on the disabled list.  But it sure would be nice if the offense could get going again.

The Cubs will start a three-game series against the Houston Astros at Wrigley Field beginning tonight at 7:05pm CT.  Jeff Samardzija will start for the Cubs and try to earn his eighth win of the season.