| « Peavy So-So, Sox Lose 5-3 | Sox Bats As Cold As The Weather, Lose 5-3 in 11 Innings » |
Cubs Fri Apr 09 2010
Wells Puts Cubs In The Win Column,
Like Ryan Dempster last night Cubs starter Randy Wells pitched well enough to earn a victory. The only question that remained would be could the bullpen hold the lead. Wells pitched six innings and allowed six hits and struck out one.
His efforts would be supported by rookie outfielder Tyler Colvin who launched his first major league home run in the second inning off Braves starter Tommy Hanson. The Cubs would add to that lead in the fourth when center fielder Marlon Byrd hit his second home run of the season. That would be all the offense the Cubs would put forth on Thursday night.
Wells and the offense did their jobs, the only question remaining would be could the bullpen do theirs ? The answer is a resounding yes. Sean Marshall continued his dominance out of the pen retiring both batters he faced. He has retired all 13 batters he has faced this season.
Carlos Marmol would earn his first save of the season. He was summoned in the bottom of the eighth to get the four out save. He was a little dicey, but he did his job nonetheless. Cubs earned their first victory of the season winning 2-0.
It was good to see Colvin continue what he started in spring training. He made the club after having a very hot spring and it showed in his first at-bat of the game when he hit his first major league home run. If he continues to hit this way it is going to be hard to argue not to find him playing time some how.
The offense is going to have to get started soon. They put together just four hits in this game and that isn't going to cut it. Two runs aren't going to be to enough to win every game this season. Sooner or later the offense is going to need to produce more runs. It was encouraging to see Derrek Lee finally get his first hit of the season, however, lead-off man Ryan Theriot is still looking for his first hit on this young season.
The one thing fans have to remind themselves of is that the baseball season is only three days old and there are plenty of games to get everything figured out. The Cubs now will head to Cincinnati to take on former Cubs skipper Dusty Baker.
Carlos Silva (0-0), who joined the Cubs as part of the Milton Bradley trade will face the Reds Homer Bailey (0-0). First pitch is 6:10 p.m CT.
