The Cubs came into town when the Angels were down and like clockwork Albert Pujols was able to lift them back up and over us. Anaheim ended a four game skid at Chicago’s expense, 4-3.
We rarely get to see Pujols these days due to interleague play, but tonight he seemed just as we remembered. The Angels first baseman blasted a two-run shot late in the eighth off of Carlos Villanueva to give Anaheim the edge. Until then, they had scored just two. Erick Aybar ran home on a sacrifice fly from Pujols in the first and Howie Kendrick singled home Josh Hamilton in the seventh.
Scott Feldman left quickly after. He completed six, allowing six hits, one walk and striking out just one. Unfortunately for him, he got a no decision on another strong outing. Jered Weaver would also leave without a win or loss for L.A., going six and allowing six hits, just one earned run and striking out 5.
Against Weaver, the Cubs were received a handful of bases on Angels’ mistakes. Luis Valbuena, who moved to the two spot in leau of Starlin Castro’s bump to seventh, was hit by a pitch in the first and scored on a single by Nate Schierholtz. In the third, David DeJesus reached on an error by Alberto Callaspo and then scored when Alfonso Soriano singled to left. Anthony Rizzo would walk in that same inning and score on a soft single to right by Ryan Sweeney. On the positive, they did score with runners in scoring position and they did take advantage of most of L.A.’s mishaps.
Yet it wasn’t enough. Three runs will not and would not hold when the bullpen made yet another blunder on the season, this time giving way to a bomb from Pujols. It was the Cubs’ 19th loss in a game where they once held a lead. That’s Major League’s most so far this season.
Matt Garza (1-0, 3.38) and Jason Vargas (5-3, 3.34) will face off tomorrow at 6:05pm for the finale of this quick matchup.
Rizzo Gives Cubs the Win in Extras, 8-6 the Final
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