Jeff Samardzija is worthy of his bobblehead as Cubs win second straight against Padres

The Cubs won their second straight game against the San Diego Padres today, 5-3.  Jeff Samardzija earned his fifth win of the season and said, "You don't want to pitch bad and then walk out the park and see your bobbleheads smashed everywhere."  No need to worry, Jeff!  You pitched an excellent game and also drove in the go-ahead run!

Fans at today's game received a Jeff Samardzija bobblehead doll (photo from Paul Sullivan)

Samardzija allowed three runs on eight hits and struck out eight and issued one walk over seven innings pitched.  He left the game in the eighth inning with a 4-3 lead.  Shawn Camp came in to pitch in relief in the eighth and retired all 3 batters he faced.  Camp retired the first batter in the ninth before Sveum called on James Russell to close out the game.  Russell gave up a double and then struck out Nick Hundley to earn the first save of his major league career.

Closer James Russell earned his first career save during today's game (AP photo)

Jeff Samardzija stands on first base after his RBI single that scored Darwin Barney with the go ahead run in the sixth inning (photo from Chicago Tribune)

Alfonso Soriano was excellent both defensively and offensively today as he made an impressive diving catch that saved a run in the sixth inning and turned into a double play to end the inning.  In the bottom of the sixth inning, he hit a home run to increase the Cubs lead to 3-1.

Starlin Castro high fives Darwin Barney after he scores on Jeff Samardzija's single in the sixth (photo from Chicago Tribune)

In other Cubs news, catcher Steve Clevenger was activated from the disabled list and Blake Lalli was optioned to Triple-A Iowa.  Cubs manager Dale Sveum said that Casey Coleman is also in the mix for being the team's closer, along with Shawn Camp and James Russell. 

Tomorrow the Cubs and Padres will play the final game of the series at 1:20pm CT at Wrigley Field.  Ryan Dempster will try for his first win of the season, even though he has been impressive in every start and has a 2.14 ERA.  Let's hope his teammates can give him the run support he deserves.

Cubs have another 9th inning rally, but fall short and lose 8-4 to Astros

The Cubs lost 8-4 to the Astros at Minute Maid Park in Houston tonight.  Matt Garza was the losing pitcher and only lasted just three innings tonight and gave up seven runs on five hits, which was his shortest outing since July 7, 2011.

Randy Wells pitched five innings in relief of Garza and came into the game when the score was 7-0 Astros.  Wells allowed just one run, three hits and walked two batters and struck out three.  His pitch count was 78 over five innings, while Garza threw 72 pitches over three innings.

“I tell you what, Randy Wells really pitched his (tail) off,” Garza said. “He picked me up for five innings. He did what I couldn’t and that was to give the bullpen a rest.”

Randy Wells pitched five innings in relief of Matt Garza on Monday in Houston (AP photo)

Wells said he's looking forward to pitching in relief (vs. as a starting pitcher) because it gives him the chance to help the team and by doing something different.  "One thing I like is the chance to play every day," Wells said.  "I've [pitched in relief] my whole career until 2008. It's something I'm comfortable with.  I'm actually excited."

Wells also made a great play tonight on Travic Buck's little dribbler down the first-base line in the bottom of the fifth inning.  Here's a link to the play.  I personally hope that Wells is successful in the bullpen and will remain on the roster.

David DeJesus climbs the right-field wall but can't come up with a home run by the Astros' Jed Lowrie during the seventh inning in Monday's game (Getty photo)

The Cubs' offense finally came alive in the ninth inning when they scored four runs to avoid being shut out.  Adrian Cardenas led off the ninth inning with a ground-rule double.  Koyie Hill, Reed Johnson, David DeJesus, and Blake Lalli all followed with singles.  It was rookie Lalli's first major-league hit and two RBIs.  The ninth inning has been the most productive for the Cubs offense this season with 28 runs.

Cubs manager Dale Sveum didn't end up shaking up the lineup, like he hinted at over the weekend.   “I didn’t say I was changing it,” Sveum said.  “I considered it.  I decided not to.”  Sveum said he wanted to overload the lineup with left-handed hitters against Astros starter Bud Norris.  The other reason is the Cubs will face left-handed starters for three games, beginning Tuesday, and he’ll be using his right-handed hitting lineup for those games.  But Sveum did come close to some tweaks.
“Very close, I will admit,” Sveum said. “I decided to give it one more week, the right-handed lineup.”

Tomorrow the Cubs will play game 2 of the 3 game series at 7:05pm CT.  Travis Wood will start for the Cubs tomorrow as he takes Chris Volstad's spot in the rotation.  Volstad was optioned to Triple-A Iowa last week.

Kerry Wood retires; Chris Volstad optioned to Iowa; Blake Lalli called up; Soto to DL; Crosstown Classic

Wow, there certainly has been a lot of Cubs news this Friday, the biggest being fan favorite Kerry Wood's announcement of his retirement. 

Kerry Wood and his son and teammates in the bleachers before Friday's game (photo from Chicago Tribune)

Crosstown Classic ad (photo from Paul Sullivan)

Kerry Wood and his son walk off the field before Friday's game

The Cubs optioned struggling starting pitcher Chris Volstad to Triple-A Iowa and called up catcher Blake Lalli to take Geovany Soto's spot on the roster.  Soto has a meniscus tear and will have knee surgery and is expected to miss about three weeks. 

Travis Wood will take Volstad's next start on Tuesday in Houston, but the roster move won't happen until then. 

The Cubs lost 3-2 to the Chicago White Sox in game 1 of the 3-game Crosstown Classic.  Jeff Samardzija was the losing pitcher. 

In the third inning, Samardzija unintentionally hit Paul Konerko in the face and Konerko had to leave the game.  In the next inning, White Sox pitcher Phillip Humber retaliated by throwing a pitch to Cubs' first baseman Bryan LaHair's head.  Luckily, LaHair got out of the way before being hit.  The funny part is that Humber ended walking LaHair anyway.  Konerko was treated for a laceration and swelling around his left eye and was sent for more tests.

In the fifth inning, David DeJesus was called safe on a slide at second base, then was called out by third base umpire Marty Foster after Gordon Beckham pummels DeJesus off the base.  Dale Sveum was the most heated as he's been all season when he came out to argue the call and ended up being ejected.  The drama between the North and South siders is always there, that's for sure!

Kerry Wood came into the game in the 8th inning and struck out Dayan Viciedo.  Then Sveum pulled him and Wood received a standing ovation from the crowd.  His son was waiting for him at the entrance of the Cubs' dugout.  He received hugs from his teammates and coaches in the dugout and left on a high note.

Kerry Wood receives a standing ovation from the crowd at Wrigley Field Friday (photo from cubs.com)

Tomorrow the crosstown rivals will play at 6:15pm CT at Wrigley Field.  Ryan Dempster is scheduled to make the start for the Cubs and hopefully will receive run support to earn his first win of the season (despite an impressive 1.74 ERA.