Jeff Samardzija pitches first career complete game shutout as Cubs win 7-0 over White Sox

Jeff Samardzija was brilliant as he pitched his first career complete game shutout and led the Cubs to a 7-0 win over their crosstown rival, the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field on a cool Memorial Day evening.

Jeff Samardzija pitched his first career complete game shutout on Monday against the White Sox (Chicago Sun-Times photo)

The "Shark" allowed just two hits and struck out eight and walked two batters over nine innings pitched and 108 pitches thrown.  Samardzija is the first Cubs starter to pitch a shutout since former Cub Randy Wells did so on August 29. 2011 against the San Francisco Giants.

Samardzija said, "I love this place.  I loved coming to watch games here as a kid.  I loved watching these guys play here, so to come here, and have my whole family here, 30 minutes from home, from my backyard, it's fun.  I love being here, I love the atmosphere.  I love these games against the White Sox, they're always fun.  Unfortunately, they cut [the series] down to four -- this is what baseball is all about, these rivalry games.  It's just fun, this is what you play for."  He also added, "I love competing against that team, they're a great group of guys who play hard, and I admire them a lot -- it was just fun."

Cubs manager Dale Sveum said, "That kind of stuff, 97 [mph] from the first pitch to the last pitch, whatever he threw, you're not going to see that too often in the big leagues."

Julio Borbon hit his first homer and Anthony Rizzo had a double and a triple and drove in two runs.  Rizzo said, "Just to put runs on the board and keep adding on, and two-out hits, it's nice for the entire team, the pitching staff, our coaches -- it was a nice, easy win."

In other Cubs news, the team placed right handed reliever Kyuji Fujikawa on the 15-day disabled list  with a right forearm strain.  The Cubs also claimed right-handed pitcher Alex Burnett off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles, who takes Fujikawa's spot on the roster.

The Cubs and Sox will play the second game of the four game Crosstown Classic series tomorrow night at 7:10pm CT on the South Side.  Edwin Jackson will start for the Cubs and try to earn his second win of the season.

Cubs can't pull off series sweep, but still win series against White Sox; Ian Stewart update; Is Anthony Rizzo on-deck?

The Cubs weren't able to pull off the series sweep against the White Sox tonight and lost 7-0.  However, the Cubs did already secure the series win against the South siders when they won the second game in a row against the Sox yesterday.  Randy Wells started for the Cubs tonight and allowed three runs on five hits and also walked four batters over 3 2/3 innings.

Randy Wells started in the final game against the White Sox on Wednesday (photo from Chicago Tribune)

Wells pitched two scoreless innings, but then walked Eduardo Escobar (who stole second) in the third inning and also walked Alejandro De Aza.  Both runners advanced on Gordon Beckham's sacrifice.  Then Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko both hit RBI singles to give the Sox a 2-0 lead.

In the fourth inning, Alexei Ramirez singled with one out.  Then De Aza reached on an infield single to Starlin Castro, who missed the flip to Darwin Barney for the forceout.  Then Beckham hit a single that got past a diving Barney that scored Ramirez.  He left the game in the fourth inning with the Sox leading 3-0.

The Cubs also wasted scoring opportunities they had tonight, such as when David DeJesus hit a leadoff double in the third inning, but was left stranded.  “Those are things we have to get better at,” manager Dale Sveum said.  “We gave one away that we could have taken the lead on early (in the third inning) if we could have got the guy over and we swing at the first pitch and roll over and don’t get anything out of that.  That was probably the key of the game right there.”

One tense moment in tonight's game was when relief pitcher Casey Coleman was hit on the right hand by the barrel of Eduzrdo Escobar's broken bat in the seventh inning, even though he tried to get out of the way.  "It's always scary when something like that happens, but I got lucky," Coleman said. "It was the barrel that hit me on the knuckles.  It's scary when you don't see it and all of a sudden it gets you." The x-rays on his hand were negative.

The White Sox win the Crosstown series 4-2 games over the Cubs this season. 

In other Cubs news, third baseman Ian Stewart had a cortisone shot in his left hand and said, “My options now are just to see if this cortisone works and give it four, five days when I’m on the [disabled list] to really let it sink in and work and then slowly get a program going off the tee.  If the shot works, then it’ll carry me through the season and maybe get another one in another six weeks or so.  If it doesn’t, then we may have to go the other route.  We’re just going to see how it feels.”  Hopefully the shot will work and Stewart won't need surgery on his wrist.  Stewart won't touch a baseball until this weekend, when he will hit off a tee.

Third baseman Ian Stewart is hoping the cortisone shot will help with his wrist injury (photo from ESPN)

The Cubs have an off-day tomorrow and will travel to start a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Their next game is Friday at 8:40pm CT.  Jeff Samardzija will start for the Cubs and try for his sixth win of the season.  There has also been lots of talk about the Cubs calling up top prospect Anthony Rizzo from Triple-A Iowa this weekend for the games against the Dbacks, so we'll see if Theo and Co. are ready to make the leap.

Cubs get second straight "W" against White Sox and try for series sweep tomorrow

The Cubs beat the White Sox 2-1 at U.S. Cellular Field tonight and in turn, have won the series and will go for the series sweep tomorrow night.

Travis Wood started for the Cubs and allowed one run on four hits and struck out five and walked four batters over six innings.  Wood earns his first win of the season.

Starter Travis Wood snags a line drive off the bat of Paul Konerko in the 2nd inning (photo from Chicago Tribune)

The Sox scored first in the second inning, but fortunately for the Cubs, it was just one run.  The Cubs then scored two runs in the top of the third when David DeJesus singled to score Geovany Soto and Tony Campana.

David DeJesus had two RBIs in tonight's game against the White Sox (photo from cubs.com)

In other Cubs news, Ian Stewart received a second opinion on his sore left wrist at the Cleveland Clinic today.  There was nothing serious discovered and it was confirmed that there is nothing structurally wrong with his wrist.  He received a cortisone injection in the top of his left hand, which will hopefully help.  Stewart has been on the 15-day disabled list since June 13th.

Tomorrow the Cubs and Sox will play the final game of the Crosstown series at 7:10pm CT.  Randy Wells will make the start for the Cubs in place of Ryan Dempster, who went on the 15-day DL yesterday.

Wells definitely sees this as an opportunity to prove himself again.  "Three years in the rotation, or whatever it was, doesn't guarantee you're going to get the fourth," Wells said.

"The two years I had in the rotation didn't guarantee anything.  I've been through it before.  It was definitely a low point in my career to have to go to Triple-A this year out of Spring Training.  I felt I was throwing well.  It's definitely an eye-opener but it makes you stronger and you realize there's nothing given to you in this game and there's a guy waiting to take your spot every day."  Wells also said doesn't think he's lost too much stamina pitching out of the bullpen (vs. the starting rotation). 

"It's an opportunity to get back on the hill as a starter and hopefully have some quick innings and some quality innings and give the team a chance to win," Wells said.  "I'm not worried about what it means and all this stuff.  It's unfortunate 'Demp' went down and I was the guy they called to start and I'm going to do it."  Let's get the series sweep tomorrow!

Cubs crush White Sox 12-3 to kick off Crosstown Classic; Ryan Dempster to DL; Geo Soto is back; other roster moves

The Cubs crushed the White Sox 12-3 to open the three-game Crosstown Classic series at U.S. Cellular Field tonight.  Matt Garza started for the Cubs and allowed three runs on five hits while striking out six and walking one batter over six innings pitched.  Out of Garza's 87 pitches, 59 were strikes.

The Cubs celebrate their 12-3 win over the White Sox on Monday (photo from Chicago Tribune)

Bryan LaHair, Starlin Castro, Alfonso Soriano, Geovany Soto and Luis Valbuena all hit home runs tonight to add to the Cubs' offense.

Bryan LaHair crosses home plate after his two-run homer in the third inning against the White Sox (Getty Images photo)

Regardless of the Cubs' record this season, it's always fun to watch the Northsiders beat up on the Sox!

Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein before the Crosstown Classic game Monday (photo from Chicago Tribune)

In other Cubs news, right handed pitcher Ryan Dempster was placed on the 15-day disabled list today for tightness in his right lat (near his shoulder).  Randy Wells will move from the bullpen to the starting rotation while Dempster is on the DL and will make the start for the Cubs on Wednesday against the Sox.  Scott Maine was called up from Triple-A Iowa to take Wells' spot in the bullpen.

Catcher Geovany Soto was activated from the DL today and was in the starting lineup tonight.  In a corresponding move, Wellington Castillo was optioned to Triple-A Iowa.  Guess all that talk from Cubs manager Dale Sveum about the possibility of using three catchers was just that...a possibility. 

Having Bryan LaHair play right field tonight suggests that the Cubs may be getting ready to call up first baseman Anthony Rizzo from Triple-A Iowa soon.  Last season when LaHair was called up to the major leagues, he played in right field nine times and in left field five times, so this is somewhat familiar to him.  But this also makes me think if the Cubs might be thinking of trading right fielder David DeJesus?  Unless DeJesus will play center field (like he did tonight) and share the position with Tony Campana?  Hmmm, the next month or so should be interesting!

Tomorrow the Crosstown Classic will continue at 7:10pm CT.  Travis Wood will start for the Cubs and try to earn his first win of the season.  Let's Go Cubbies!

Summer-like 91-degree day at Wrigley today, but Cubs shutout by Sox

The Cubs lost to the White Sox 6-0 in the final game of the Crosstown Classic today and ended up being swept by the South siders in the three-game series.  This was the first time the Sox swept the Cubs at Wrigley Field since 1999.  Paul Maholm started for the Cubs and took his third loss of the season, for a 4-3 record.  I was at today's game so I witnessed the sweep and lack of Cubs offense in person.

The Cubs bullpen before the start of Sunday's game against the White Sox

It didn't help that the wind was blowing straight out over the center field scoreboard at 12mph at the beginning of the game.  Adam Dunn, Gordan Beckham, and Tyler Flowers all took advantage of the wind to hit home runs in today's game.

Maholm gave up nine hits, including three homers, over 6 1/3 innings.  It was the first time he had given up three home runs in a game since the Nationals hit four on June 10, 2008.  

Paul Maholm gave up three home runs in Sunday's game

Getting swept by the White Sox felt the same as getting swept by the Marlins, according to Bryan LaHair.  "Any time you lose or get swept, it's not a good feeling," LaHair said.  "Whether it's them or some other team, you don't accept that."

Third baseman Ian Stewart at first base

“Our offense has to step up, no getting around it,” Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. “We have to step up and get three-run innings, crooked numbers all the time or as much as you possibly can.”

Sveum said he may alter the lineup, starting at the top, when the Cubs open a six-game road trip on Monday in Houston.  David DeJesus, Tony Campana and Starlin Castro were a combined 5-for-23 on Friday and Sunday. 

"I might think about changing things at the top of the order," Sveum said.  "It's not that anybody is doing anything wrong, but just to change something because we aren't producing any runs that way.  We might change things up there.  We need some production and the bottom line is, two months into the season, we have to start producing or we're going to have to start making some changes."  Let's hope whatever changes he makes will help the team score some runs!

Starlin Castro at bat during Sunday's 91-degree finale against the White Sox

Tomorrow the Cubs will play the Astros in Houston at 7:05pm CT.  Matt Garza is scheduled to start for the Cubs.  Following are some more photos I took at today's game.

A bat boy hands David DeJesus his helmet after he is issued a walk during Sunday's game

Starlin Castro during Sunday's game

Bryan LaHair during the National Anthem before Sunday's game

Lots of changes on Cubs roster; Crosstown Classic game 2 recap

There continued to be lots of changes to the Cubs roster today.  Kerry Wood formally retired and held his retirement announcement on the field at Wrigley today at 2pm.  His wife Sarah and three kids were in attendance on the field, as well as the entire Cubs team.  Laura Ricketts spoke on behalf of the Ricketts family and presented Wood with a framed photo of Wood hugging his son after his last strikeout in yesterday's game.  Ricketts also gave Wood the flag that was hanging at Wrigley Field that represented his 20-strikeout game during his rookie season in 1998.

Kerry Wood makes his official retirement announcement at Wrigley Field today (photo from cubs.com)

Kerry and Sarah Wood at a celebratory retirement dinner (photo from Kerry Wood's twitter account)

Kerry Wood posted the photo above to his twitter account in a tweet that said, "Thanks for the warm wishes & amazing send off. A day my family & I will never forget. Cheers! #Newbeginning #Gocubs"

Catcher Geovany Soto was placed on the 15-day disabled following a left knee arthroscopy.  Backup catcher Wellington Castillo has a has a mild MCL sprain in right knee and may miss 4-7 days.  In a somewhat surprising move, the Cubs acquired former Cubs catcher Koyie Hill acquired from the Reds for cash considerations.  During tonight's game, Darwin Barney was the emergency catcher again.

The Cubs also recalled right-handed pitcher Randy Wells from Triple-A Iowa.  Wells takes Kerry Wood's spot on the 25-man roster and will pitch in long relief.  Wells is 27-31 with a 4.05 ERA (229 ER/509.0 IP) in 88 major league appearances, all but four as a starter.  He spent most of the last three seasons in the Cubs rotation, posting a 7-6 record with a 4.99 ERA (75 ER/135.1 IP) in 23 starts last year after missing nearly two months in April and May due to a right forearm strain.  Wells went 6-3 with a 4.04 ERA (40 ER/89.0 IP) in 14 starts after the All-Star Break.

Ryan Dempster started for the Cubs tonight and had his worst outing of the season as he gave up four runs on seven hits over six innings, which increased his ERA from 1.74 to 2.28.

Ryan Dempster started for the Cubs on Saturday (photo from cubs.com)

The Cubs ended up losing 7-4 to the White Sox.  For a complete game recap, here's a link to cubs.com.

Pitcher Blake Parker, who was just called up on Thursday, was pulled from his second career outing in tonight's game with tightness in his right hamstring.

Tomorrow the final game of the Crosstown Classic will be played at Wrigley Field at 1:20pm CT.  Paul Maholm is the scheduled starter for the Cubs and will go for his fifth win of the season.

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.