Cubs secure comeback in extras over the Angels to prevail 8-6

 

AP Photo/ Reed Saxon

  After a decent short homestand where the Cubs won 3-of-5 games the club just completed a 2-game series in Anaheim.  Last night Chicago, still hampering with injuries and spotty offense managed to defeat the Angels in a 10-inning affair.  The 8-6 final was spurred by the bases being loaded and Anthony Rizzo delivering with a huge 3-run double.  Sure he's hitting only .259, but he's proved to be the best offense for the Cubs.  Kevin Greg came in late during the game to record his 2nd win in 1.1 innings on the mound.  He allowed a earned run on 2 hits and a walk.  The previous game in Anaheim showed the go-ahead 2-run blast by Albert Pujols was enough to beat the Cubs in a 4-3 outcome. 

  The overall progress is quite slow for the Cubs moving into June.  Claiming 4th place in the Central nothing has worked to much success besides the starting pitching.  Travis Wood so far is the team leader with 2.75 ERA and owns a 5-3 record.  He will square off with the Pirates' Francisco Liriano (3-2) on Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field.  If a big run explosion can occur again at home (such as with Dioneer Navarro's career 3-homerun game against the Sox) in the upcoming series then the Cubs can pick up some ground in their division.  Yet without managing wins on the road nothing for the most part will change in the standings.  For coach Dale Sveum to get the most out of his flip-flop batting order he must move Starlin Castro into the lead-off spot to spring up chances for runs and getting the young shortstop out of his slump. 

  With the two series for the return homestand the Cubs have got to churn out production and not allow the bullpen to have brief laspes or too many frequent Carlos Marmol appearances.  The familiar scenery can help back at home yet the Cubs better bring the offense against the hot Pirates before seeing the Reds who are no slouches on run production either.  Ryan Sweeney looks to be a viable candidate to get good starts in the outfield and can hit for a bit of power.  Other than Schierholtz the rest of the outfield platoon sure is a total waste of energy and time.  Even calling them 'juggernauts' fails to do justice to their absence timely hitting.  Plus the next time Jeff Samardzija gets a start the lineup must manage to give good run support (at least 4 runs).  If not a long, hot crummy summer continues in Chicago.