Abbatacola: Cubs Split Double-Header
The worst situation that could have happened to Mike Quade in game one was the need to go to his bullpen early and often. When starter Matt Garza left the game after six innings of work, Quade used five relief pitchers to eventually get the 2 to 1 victory over San Diego.
Closer Carlos Marmol blew the save in the ninth. Quade called on Jeff Samardzija who pitched two innings and earned his first victory of the season.
The game ended in dramatic fashion when utility outfielder, Reed Johnson, sent a Luke Gregerson pitch into the bleachers for game-winning walk-off homerun in the eleventh.
Game two saw relief pitcher James Russell make his second start of the season because of injuries in the starting rotation. The start left Russell with his second loss on the year and the desire the have some of his 74 pitches back. He gave up three homeruns to the Padres, whose once quiet bats came to life against the young lefty.
After the loss, Quade said that Russell is best suited to come out of the bullpen, but he did everything that was asked of him. On whether or not Russell would start again, Quade just didn't know.
The Cubs battled back in this game before losing 5 to 4 as Heath Bell earned his 5th save on the season and his 39th consecutive save dating back to May of 2010.
The hero of game one, Reed Johnson, continued with his hot hitting. Starting in center field for Marlon Bryd, he went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Unfortunately Johnson's aggressive base running turned that double into an out at third base. That hit gave the Cubs their first run as Alfonso Soriano scored from second base. The next three batters after Johnson all singled.
Johnson said after the loss that given a different game situation he wouldn't have tried for third. Mike Quade supported his outfielder's decision calling Johnson "fiery" and "intelligent".
Next up for the tied for first place Cubs are the Los Angeles Dodgers beginning on Friday afternoon. Casey Coleman, Ryan Dempster, and Carlos Zambrano are scheduled to pitch the weekend series. The Cubs will face former teammate, Ted Lilly, on Saturday.
*In a side note, pitchers Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner are on pace to begin a pitching program starting Friday. Both starters will be re-evaluated in the middle of next week, after the home series with Colorado, to determine the next step in their return to the rotation.
