Straily, Norris Lead A's In 1-0 Win Over Cubs
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Derek Norris scored on a passed ball with two outs in the seventh inning and the Oakland Athletics beat the Chicago Cubs 1-0 on Thursday.
Dan Straily (5-2) gave up a hit over seven innings after being recalled from Triple-A Sacramento earlier in the day. He made the start to allow a sore Jarrod Parker to get two extra days of rest. Straily walked three and struck out six.
Norris walked with two outs and went to third on Seth Smith's single. Matt Guerrier (2-4), making his first appearance with the Cubs since being acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers, threw a strike on the outside part of the plate. Pinch hitter Eric Sogard swung at the pitch and Cubs catcher Wellington Castillo had the ball glance off his mitt, allowing Norris to score the unearned run.
Cubs' starter Travis Wood allowed three hits over six innings. He walked one and struck five in recording his third consecutive no-decision. Alfonso Soriano got Chicago's lone hit off Straily.
Wood extend his winless stretch to six starts despite an ERA of 2.58 over that span.
Ryan Cook pitched the eighth and Grant Balfour recorded the final three outs for his 21st save in as many chances.
In the fourth, Yoenis Cespedes threw out Starlin Castro trying to score from second on Soriano's single to left field. Soriano was later thrown out by Norris attempting to steal second, ending the inning.
Castro walked to open the inning and advanced when Nate Schierholtz grounded out.
The A's also had a potential run thrown out on the bases. Against Matt Guerrier, Chris Young singled with one out in the seventh but was caught stealing by Castillo. Norris drew a walk and went to third on Seth Smith's single prior to the passed ball.
Pedro Stroup also made his Cubs debut with a scoreless ninth as the Cubs matched their franchise record for players used before the All-Star break with 41. The Cubs also extended their franchise record by using 23 pitchers before the break.
NOTES: Cubs OF Brian Bogusevic left the game after the top of third inning with left hamstring tightness. ... The A's optioned C Stephen Vogt to Triple-A Sacramento to make room for Straily. ... The Cubs announced that RHP Carlos Villanueva (2-4, 3.45) will start Sunday's game against Pittsburgh, filling the spot vacated when RHP Scott Feldman was traded to the Baltimore Orioles. Villanueva started the year in the rotation, but went to the bullpen when RHP Matt Garza came off the disabled list. ... RHP Jeff Samardija (5-7, 3.34) will take the mound Friday night against the Pirates at Wrigley Field. He's 4-2 with a 1.56 ERA against the Pirates all-time, though just 1-2 against them this year. ... LHP Tommy Milone (7-7, 4.17) will start for the A's in Kansas City. He's 1-2 with a 5.96 ERA over his last four starts. ... Giants LHP Barry Zito is donating $500 for every strikeout in the major leagues on Thursday. ... According to Sports Features Group, the last time the Cubs lost a 1-0 game, with the lone run scored on a passed ball, was July 1, 1962, in Milwaukee.
(© 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)
