Games 9 & 10

5-5

It's early in the season but the Cubs are already having to test the depth of the organization when it comes to pitching. With Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner on the DL the Cubs recalled  2nd year pitcher Casey Coleman. Coleman was 4-2 in twelve appearances, including eight starts, last year and showed that he can hold down the fort while the starters are on the mend.

Game 9 -- The Cubs hitters helped the pitchers never fall to far behind in this game...for the most part.  Cubs pitching really only made three mistakes during the game. Too bad they were all two run homers! Making his first start of the season Casey Coleman left the game after five innings with the score tied at four each. The Cubs then took the lead in the top of the seventh on a RBI ground out by Tyler Colvin.

The eight inning was turned over to Kerry Wood who couldn't manage to hold the score and set up Carlos Marmol in the Ninth.  The Brewers third two run home run was hit by former Cubs farm hand Casey McGehee. The other two run bombs for the Brewers were off the bats of Ryan Braun (his fourth on the year) and Prince Fielder (number 2 on the season).

Kerry Wood took the lose  (0-1) for the Cubs, while Kameron Loe pitched and inning and two thirds for his first win (1-0) John Axeford work the ninth for his third save.

Game 10 -- Ryan Dempster vs Nelson Figueroa

This was the first game in a new series with the Houston Astros...and a series that will hopefully see the Cubs string a few wins together.  Dempster again pitched well for the Cubs, going  six and a third strong innings. Well, really he went about six strong innings. It's hard to call three runs in the span of three batters "good"...especially when those three batters go Home run, single, Two Run Home run.

Ten games into the season and it looks like the Cubs pitchers are going to be giving up a ton of long balls this year. Thankfully it also appears that it's not going to take Aramis Ramirez and the rest of the hitters almost half a season to get in the swing of things.

Starlin Castro also had a Cubs first today when he stole second. With that swipe the Cubs finally have a stolen base for the season. Prior to the steal the Cubs were the only team in the majors not to have a single stolen base. Castro would end the game three for five with three runs scored and the stolen base.

Ryan Dempster finally picked up his first win (1-2) and Carlos Marmol struck out three batters in his inning and a  third of work to pick up his fourth save in five chances. Nelson Figuerora, who gave up all five of the Cubs runs in four innings of work, fell to 0-2.

Nine of the last ten runs given up by Cubs pitching have been by the long ball. (4-2R HR, Solo HR).  James Russell will make the next start for Chicago in place of Randy Wells.