The Cubs began their first road-stand just like they left their first homestand … with the offense. The Cubs did not waste any time with the offense as they scored 4 right off the bat in the 1st inning. DeJesus started off the game with a double, followed by an single by Barney and Castro drove in the first run of the game with a rbi single. Alfonso Soriano made the first out, but it was productive as he hit a sac fly that moved Barney to 3rd. However, Barney didn’t have to move up as Ian Stewart jacked a home run over the right field wall. That was Stewart’s first home since 2010. Yeah … Stewart did not hit a home run in 2011. That put the Cubs up 4-0, until the 3rd inning when the Cubs put up 4 more runs on the scoreboard on ….>>>>
Brain LaHair’s grand slam and his 2nd of the year. It was like to see LaHair go deep, but he did strike out his 3 other at-bats. The Cubs made Adam Wainright pay with the walks to Starlin Castro and Ian Stewart. That’s good to see the Cubs make him pay, they barely did that in 2011.
Jeff Samardizja was not as efficient as he was in his first start … he gave up 10 hits, 5 runs, 1 walk and struck out 5 batters in 5 innings. Samardzija gave up those 5 runs in the 5th inning in which knocked hom out of the innings. Let’s hope Samardzija can play like he did in his first game against the Reds during his next start.
Best part on the game … the bullpen was in shutdown mode by not allowing any runs.
Starlin Castro also had a great game as he went 3-4 with 3 1B, 2 runs, 2 rbi’s, BB and a stolen base. Castro is currently the leader in stolen bases this year and is 6-6 on the season. Castro is also 189 hits away from back-to-back 200 hit seasons.
The Cubs will try to improve their 3-6 record tommorrw as Chris Volstad will take the mound vs. Lance Lynn at 12:05 p.m. central.