Padres-Cubs rained out; split doubleheader Wed.

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HOUSTON (AP)—James Russell(notes) might want to forget his first career start.

The Chicago Cubs left-hander, who got the start in place of injured Andrew Cashner(notes), lasted 1 2-3 innings and gave up five runs as the Houston Astros jumped to an early lead in an 11-2 victory over the Cubs on Tuesday night.

Four of his five runs were earned, but Russell (1-1) said the first two batters of the game were the key.

The Astros caught Russell off guard with bunt singles by Michael Bourn(notes) and Angel Sanchez(notes) to lead off the first and continued the onslaught with RBI singles by Hunter Pence(notes) and Bill Hall(notes) en route to a 3-0 first-inning lead.

“I don’t think they could have thrown two more perfect bunts out there,” Russell said. “We have the scouting report. We know against lefties Bourn likes to bunt. He beat our defense the first one out there, and we weren’t able to get it.”

The second inning wasn’t much better as Humberto Quintero(notes) led off with a double and Brett Myers(notes) followed with a single. Bourn reached on an RBI groundout and scored on another Pence RBI-single that chased Russell just 55 pitches into the start.

“It started off kind of early, and I got some unlucky breaks,” Russell said. “There were some seeing-eye singles and some bleeders mixed in there. I felt pretty good overall, but unfortunately, a couple mishaps didn’t go my way.”

Pence had four RBIs, Sanchez tied a career high with four hits and Bourn scored a career-high four runs for an outstanding punch at the top of Houston’s lineup. Quintero tied a career high with three hits and fell a home run shy of the cycle.

Cubs manager Mike Quade said the disappointing outing for Russell doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t start again, but he agreed that the two bunt singles started things off badly.

“Of all things, two good bunts to start things off, and he never could get on track,” Quade said. “He’s such a valuable part of this club that we will take a look and see what we think. He threw strikes and did OK, but he was hit hard.”

Quade gave reliever Jeff Samardzija(notes) credit for going three innings on a night the Cubs had to use five pitchers.

“I thought Samardzija threw the ball well, and we needed those three innings badly,” Quade said. “I thought he was better tonight. We got through it, and all those guys in the bullpen, it was ugly, but we got through it.”

The rest of the night belonged to Myers (1-0), who kept the Cubs at bay for seven innings, giving up one run and eight hits with five strikeouts.

“He pitched well tonight,” Quade said. “He’s tough. He throws a fastball, curveball, he cuts some balls and mixes in the slider. He changes speed really well. He seems like he’s found a home here. When his curveball is on, he’s real good, and I think he threw some good ones tonight.”

Tyler Colvin(notes) had a solo homer to right field that made it 7-1 in the seventh inning. Marlon Byrd(notes) went 3 for 3 with a double for the Cubs. He also robbed Bill Hall of a hit with a nifty leaping catch just in front of the bullpen in right field in the fifth inning.

Byrd was impressed with Myers.

“He made a couple mistakes, but he was locating well all night,” Byrd said. “It’s one of those things where good pitching beats good hitting all the time. He made pitches when he had to. We would get guys on, and he would locate his pitches. There’s not much you can do about that.”

NOTES: Chicago OF Kosuke Fukudome(notes) was out of the lineup for the second straight day on Tuesday after straining his hamstring making a catch on Sunday. He is listed as day to day with the injury and the Cubs are hoping he will be able to play by Friday. … Chicago signed veteran pitcher Doug Davis(notes) to a minor league deal on Tuesday. Davis went 1-4 in eight starts for Milwaukee last season, but missed most of the year with injuries. Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said Davis will be in extended spring training for a couple of weeks and they hope to have him at Triple-A Iowa before the end of the month.

That’s all for today.

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) – Pinch-hitter Blake DeWitt capped a five-run eighth inning with a two-run double, as the Chicago Cubs rallied past the Chicago Cubs, 5-3, in the middle installment of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.

Starlin Castro went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored for the Cubs, who lost, 6-3, in the season opener on Friday. Alfonso Soriano drove in a run and scored.

Carlos Zambrano went six-plus innings in the start, allowing three runs on five hits. He also had four strikeouts and three walks before leaving in the seventh with cramping in his right hand.

“I thought he threw the ball well. He did a good job,” Cubs manager Mike Quade said of Zambrano. “I thought he handled himself well.”

Sean Marshall (1-0) tossed a perfect eighth to pick up the win. Carlos Marmol struck out the side in the ninth to pick up his first save of the season.

Garrett Jones hit a solo homer for the Pirates, who got an RBI apiece from Pedro Alvarez and Neil Walker.

Paul Maholm, who endured his worst season in the majors last year with a 9-15 record and 5.10 ERA, pitched 6 2/3 scoreless frames. The left-hander gave up five hits to go with three strikeouts and two walks.

Holding a 3-0 lead, the Pirates brought in Evan Meek (0-1) from the bullpen to begin the home eighth. Meek was exactly what Chicago needed after being shut down by Maholm and Jose Veras.

Pinch-hitter Kosuke Fukudome walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on Castro’s double to right. Marlon Byrd then hit a routine grounder to first, but Lyle Overbay misplayed the ball, allowing Castro to score to make it a 3-2 game.

Geovany Soto singled two batters later to put men on first and second with one out. Following the second out of the inning, Soriano hit an RBI single to center. Chris Resop took over on the mound for Meek, but his luck was no different. He walked Tyler Colvin to load the bases and gave up the two-run double to DeWitt.

Marmol did his job in the ninth to give Chicago its first victory of the season.

“It’s nice to come back and win a game. A lot of people contributed today,” Quade said.

Pittsburgh got on the board in the first inning. Jose Tabata and Overbay walked around a pair of outs. Alvarez then singled to right to score Tabata, but Zambrano got Ryan Doumit to ground out to limit the damage.

The Pirates tacked on another run in the third, when Tabata led off with an infield single and Walker followed with a double to center. Andrew McCutchen then walked, but Pittsburgh couldn’t capitalize for more runs.

The last batter Zambrano faced was Jones, who led off the seventh with a homer to right for a 3-0 game. While pitching to Ronny Cedeno, Zambrano was forced to leave.

Game Notes

Pittsburgh won 10 of its 15 games versus Chicago last year, taking five of nine in the Windy City…Zambrano had an interesting 2010 season. After a wildly inconsistent first couple of months, Zambrano had a dugout blowup at U.S. Cellular Field which led to a suspension, anger management classes and a demotion to the bullpen. The Venezuelan right-hander returned to the rotation with success, though, going 8-0 over his final 11 starts with a 1.41 ERA. He ended the year 11-6 with a 3.33 ERA…The Cubs went 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base.

The Sports Network

What are your opinions.

 

Published Saturday, March 26, 2011 9:30 PM

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Andrew Cashner has a starting role with the Chicago Cubs, leaving Carlos Silva in limbo.

Hours after landing a spot in the rotation, Cashner had a rough first inning before settling down to help Chicago beat the Texas Rangers 6-5 on Saturday.

Before the game, the Cubs announced that Cashner will be the team’s fifth starter, leaving Silva without a spot on the 25-man roster when the season begins.

Chicago general manager Jim Hendry said Silva would be offered a minor league assignment, but the veteran right-hander said there was “no chance” he would report to Triple-A Iowa.

“That’s not on my mind right now,” Silva told reporters at the team’s Mesa training complex. “Not at all. That’s like I’m an insurance player. I guess that’s what they want.”

If the Cubs can’t trade Silva and he elects to be released rather than report to the minors, Chicago would be on the hook for his $11.5 million salary this season.

Silva was 1-2 with a 10.90 ERA in five appearances this spring after going 10-6 with a 4.22 ERA in 21 starts last year in his first season with the Cubs. He also accepted blame for a brief scuffle in the dugout with teammate Aramis Ramirez early in spring training.

Texas starter C.J. Wilson left after two innings with a tight left hamstring, but threw another two dozen pitches in the bullpen and said he wouldn’t miss any time.

“I was just a little tight after sprinting yesterday and it never really loosened up,” Wilson said. “After we had that really, really long inning I was unable to keep it going.”

Wilson allowed three runs, two earned, and four hits in his final spring outing. He’s scheduled to start for the Rangers in their opener against Boston on April 1.

“We didn’t want to take a chance on him,” Texas manager Ron Washington said.

Washington and Rangers officials will meet Saturday to sort out the bullpen and a rotation in flux following right-hander Tommy Hunter’s hamstring injury.

Mitch Moreland homered and Neftali Feliz threw a scoreless ninth inning for the Rangers.

Kerry Wood pitched a perfect seventh and Jeff Samardzija tossed two innings of one-hit ball for Chicago.

Cashner allowed five runs and five hits in the first inning, also committing an error, but threw the ball well the rest of the way. The 24-year-old right-hander gave up two hits and faced one batter more than the minimum in his last four innings, retiring his final seven batters.

Cashner got Endy Chavez to ground out to start the game but allowed the next four batters to reach including Moreland, who hit his fourth home run of the spring.

From that point on, though, Cashner was in charge.

“I just got the ball up that inning,” said Cashner, who has a 4.41 ERA in five appearances. “I came out a little amped up, hung a curveball and my fastball wouldn’t stay down.”

NOTES: Rangers LHP Arthur Rhodes was given a cortisone shot in his left wrist Friday to try and alleviate tendinitis in the joint. … Rangers CF Julio Borbon was a late scratch with tightness in his left elbow, one day after he was benched in the second inning of a game against Colorado for what Washington said was a “teachable moment.” Borbon said Washington didn’t see him coming up the stairs to enter the on-deck circle, leading to his removal from the game. … The Cubs optioned RHP Casey Coleman and RHP Jeff Stevens to Triple-A, reducing the team’s roster to 28.

That’s all for today.

MESA, Ariz. — Chicago Cubs closer Carlos Marmol believes his team’s bullpen has the potential to be among the best in baseball.

“

We are the best. We feel very confident.

” – Carlos Marmol

“We are the best,” Marmol said.

Depending on whether Andrew Cashner is a starter or reliever, the Cubs could line up with John Grabow and Sean Marshall setting up from the left side, and Kerry Wood and Cashner from the right side.

“The Padres ‘pen was better than any other team’s last year,” Marshall said. “You had Mike Adams and Luke Gregerson coming out, and bam-bam, the seventh and eighth innings were sealed up. Then they closed it out with Heath Bell to finish the game off.”

Marshall and company hope to save the rotation pitchers some wear and tear.

“If we can do something like that, save our starters from throwing 120 pitches, and pitching into the eighth inning, grinding it out every time out, we’re going to have a stronger staff all the way around,” Marshall said.

The Cubs’ bullpen was solid in the last third of the 2010 season as Cashner and lefty James Russell gained confidence.

“That’s one of our goals this year, to really close the door, like we did late last season,” Marshall said. “We don’t want to give the opponents any chance at all to come back.”

Marmol saved more than half of the team’s games last season while setting a major league record for strikeouts per nine innings for a reliever at 15.99.

“We have Sean and Grabow as well as the young guys,” Marmol said. “And now we have Kerry Wood back. We feel very confident.”

With two rotation spots open, the relievers will probably be on call early and often in the spring, as the starters round into shape.

Marmol doesn’t worry about pressure in his role.

“I don’t think about anything much,” Marmol said. “I go out there, get my three or four outs, help the team win, go into the clubhouse, put my headphones on and go home.”

Wood, who returns to the Cubs after spending two years in the American League, learned a lot from setting up New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera during the last two months of the 2010 season.

“He has not one worry in the world when he goes out there,” Wood said. “He just uses one pitch [cut fastball]. It’s amazing. The whole bullpen was like that. It was totally stress-free when the bullpen phone rang.”

Wood is expected to be a calming influence in the clubhouse and in the bullpen. He attributes his success to originally watching former teammate Bob Howry.

“I watched Bob go about his business,” Wood said. “He prepared and acted the same way if he did well or got his butt kicked. He was the same guy every day, good, bad or ugly. I try to make that my approach.”

Jeff Samardzija and Russell may have a leg up on the rest of the staff to complete the seven-man relief corps. Russell showed quality at the end of last season and Samardzija is out of options.

Cashner and Russell will get stretched out with a chance to make the starting rotation.

Can the Cubs really have a better bullpen than the 2010 Padres?

“That’s a heck of a goal,” Cubs manager Mike Quade said. “I haven’t stopped to think about that. I haven’t stopped to think if we’ll be that good. If it is, we’re really going to have a good year.”

Bruce Levine covers baseball for ESPNChicago.com and ESPN 1000.

There is the quick update of the day.

The Chicago Cubs have avoided arbitration with Carlos Marmol, signing the closer to a three-year contract on Monday.

Mesa, AZ (Sports Network) – The Chicago Cubs have avoided arbitration with Carlos Marmol, signing the closer to a three-year contract on Monday.

Marmol, 28, had a 2-3 record and converted 38 of 43 save opportunities last season for the Cubs. He posted a 2.55 earned run average and racked up a career-high 138 strikeouts in 77 appearances.

The right-hander broke into the majors with the Cubs in 2006, starting 13 games. Chicago moved him to the bullpen the following season.

Marmol is 16-19 with 61 saves and a 3.25 ERA in 316 career games.

© 2011 The Sports Network

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CHICAGO — 2010 was a bizarre season.

The Cubs never got above .500, but the starting pitchers led the National League in quality starts. They homered in 20 consecutive games, yet ranked 10th in runs scored.

Raise your hand if you predicted Carlos Silva would go 8-0 in his first 11 starts — or if you knew Opening Day starter Carlos Zambrano would make nearly as many relief appearances (16) as starts (20). Who knew Aramis Ramirez, a career .286 hitter, would post a .207 average in the first half — or that Lou Piniella would leave before the season ended?

For Mike Quade, the ’10 season was an opportunity. He took over for Piniella and the team responded with a 24-13 record, giving Cubs fans hope for next year.

Carlos Marmol saved more than half (38) of the Cubs’ 75 wins in ’10, and set a Major League record by averaging 15.99 strikeouts per nine innings. The Cubs did have trouble early on getting to Marmol, as the team lost relievers John Grabow, Angel Guzman and Esmailin Caridad to injuries. The team was 22-32 in one-run games, and the 32 losses were the most in such situations in the Major Leagues.

Looking back at 2010 MLB Year in Review • Game prospering • Final standings • Statistical leaders

The season did produce some milestones. Alfonso Soriano and Derrek Lee each hit their 300th home runs, doing so two days apart in June. Ramirez finished with 25 home runs and is one of six Cubs to have six or more 25-homer seasons.

The first year under the new owners, the Ricketts family, was a learning experience — and ended sadly in December with the death of legendary broadcaster and former Cubs third baseman Ron Santo. His funeral, though, resulted in a reunion between the Cubs and pitcher Kerry Wood, who gave the team a hometown discount to return for one more year.

“God bless No. 10, who had something to do with this,” said Cubs general manager Jim Hendry, who talked to Wood after the funeral about coming back.

The right-hander, known as “Kid K,” will be back in ’11 in the bullpen. But let’s take one more look at some of the Cubs’ 2010 story lines.

5. Piniella’s early exit and Quade’s strong finish

Starting in Spring Training, Piniella made it clear he didn’t want his job status to be a distraction. This was the last year of his contract and he fully expected to finish the season. What he didn’t anticipate, was how much the deaths of George Steinbrenner and an uncle would affect him. Plus, he had to deal with his 90-year-old mother’s poor health. On July 20, Piniella announced he would retire at the end of the season — but he moved the date up and went home to Tampa, Fla., after the Aug. 22 game. Third-base coach Quade was promoted and seemed to revive the team. After 17 seasons managing in the Minor Leagues plus 3 1/2 years on Piniella’s staff, Quade was finally promoted to a big league job. His performance was rewarded on Oct. 19 with a two-year contract.

4. Zambrano’s roller-coaster season

Carlos Zambrano was the Opening Day starter for the sixth straight year — but after four starts, he was shifted to the bullpen. The Cubs needed relief help and to make room for Ted Lilly coming off the DL. But Zambrano wasn’t comfortable there and moved back to the rotation on June 4. That didn’t last long, as a dugout tantrum on June 25 resulted in a three-game suspension and stint on the restricted list. Zambrano underwent anger management therapy, and returned to action and the ‘pen on July 31. He was starting again by Aug. 9 and finished 8-0 with a 1.41 ERA in his final 11 starts. The animated and emotional “Big Z” somehow finished 11-6.

3. Starlin Castro’s dazzling debut

The Cubs’ offense was scuffling, and on May 7, help arrived in Castro, 20, who was batting .376 at Double-A Tennessee. The slender shortstop made quite a first impression in his Major League debut vs. the Reds, hitting a three-run homer in his first at-bat and adding a three-run triple. The six RBIs were a Major League record for a debut game, and he was the third youngest ever to homer in his first career at-bat. While he hit only two more homers the rest of the season, Castro finished the season with a .300 average — good for 10th place in the National League. Defensively, Castro made dazzling plays but also youthful mistakes, and was charged with 27 errors.

2. Tyler Colvin’s bat attack

Colvin won a spot on the Opening Day roster with a strong spring, but it was difficult for Piniella to fit the rookie in the outfield. When he did play, he produced — batting .315 in his first 59 games. Colvin’s season ended prematurely on Sept. 19, when he was struck in the chest by a broken bat, resulting in a collapsed lung and prompting debate on the merits of maple bats. He ended his first full season with 20 home runs, fourth most by a Cubs rookie and second among NL rookies.

1. Departures of Lilly, Theriot, Fontenot and Lee

At the Trade Deadline, the Cubs were in fourth place and 11 games back in the NL Central. It was time to look ahead and Lilly and Ryan Theriot were first to go, getting traded July 31 to the Dodgers for Blake DeWitt and two Minor League pitchers. On Aug. 11, Mike Fontenot only needed to walk down the hallway from the visitor’s clubhouse to the home quarters, as he was traded to the Giants when the Cubs were in San Francisco. One week later, Lee was dealt to Atlanta and a chance at postseason play for three Minor Leaguers. His first game for the Braves, strangely enough, was at Wrigley Field on Aug. 20.

Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. She writes a blog, Muskat Ramblings, and you can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Thanks for visiting our blog =).

CHICAGO — 2010 was a bizarre season.

The Cubs never got above .500, but the starting pitchers led the National League in quality starts. They homered in 20 consecutive games, yet ranked 10th in runs scored.

Raise your hand if you predicted Carlos Silva would go 8-0 in his first 11 starts — or if you knew Opening Day starter Carlos Zambrano would make nearly as many relief appearances (16) as starts (20). Who knew Aramis Ramirez, a career .286 hitter, would post a .207 average in the first half — or that Lou Piniella would leave before the season ended?

For Mike Quade, the ’10 season was an opportunity. He took over for Piniella and the team responded with a 24-13 record, giving Cubs fans hope for next year.

Carlos Marmol saved more than half (38) of the Cubs’ 75 wins in ’10, and set a Major League record by averaging 15.99 strikeouts per nine innings. The Cubs did have trouble early on getting to Marmol, as the team lost relievers John Grabow, Angel Guzman and Esmailin Caridad to injuries. The team was 22-32 in one-run games, and the 32 losses were the most in such situations in the Major Leagues.

Looking back at 2010 MLB Year in Review • Game prospering • Final standings • Statistical leaders

The season did produce some milestones. Alfonso Soriano and Derrek Lee each hit their 300th home runs, doing so two days apart in June. Ramirez finished with 25 home runs and is one of six Cubs to have six or more 25-homer seasons.

The first year under the new owners, the Ricketts family, was a learning experience — and ended sadly in December with the death of legendary broadcaster and former Cubs third baseman Ron Santo. His funeral, though, resulted in a reunion between the Cubs and pitcher Kerry Wood, who gave the team a hometown discount to return for one more year.

“God bless No. 10, who had something to do with this,” said Cubs general manager Jim Hendry, who talked to Wood after the funeral about coming back.

The right-hander, known as “Kid K,” will be back in ’11 in the bullpen. But let’s take one more look at some of the Cubs’ 2010 story lines.

5. Piniella’s early exit and Quade’s strong finish

Starting in Spring Training, Piniella made it clear he didn’t want his job status to be a distraction. This was the last year of his contract and he fully expected to finish the season. What he didn’t anticipate, was how much the deaths of George Steinbrenner and an uncle would affect him. Plus, he had to deal with his 90-year-old mother’s poor health. On July 20, Piniella announced he would retire at the end of the season — but he moved the date up and went home to Tampa, Fla., after the Aug. 22 game. Third-base coach Quade was promoted and seemed to revive the team. After 17 seasons managing in the Minor Leagues plus 3 1/2 years on Piniella’s staff, Quade was finally promoted to a big league job. His performance was rewarded on Oct. 19 with a two-year contract.

4. Zambrano’s roller-coaster season

Carlos Zambrano was the Opening Day starter for the sixth straight year — but after four starts, he was shifted to the bullpen. The Cubs needed relief help and to make room for Ted Lilly coming off the DL. But Zambrano wasn’t comfortable there and moved back to the rotation on June 4. That didn’t last long, as a dugout tantrum on June 25 resulted in a three-game suspension and stint on the restricted list. Zambrano underwent anger management therapy, and returned to action and the ‘pen on July 31. He was starting again by Aug. 9 and finished 8-0 with a 1.41 ERA in his final 11 starts. The animated and emotional “Big Z” somehow finished 11-6.

3. Starlin Castro’s dazzling debut

The Cubs’ offense was scuffling, and on May 7, help arrived in Castro, 20, who was batting .376 at Double-A Tennessee. The slender shortstop made quite a first impression in his Major League debut vs. the Reds, hitting a three-run homer in his first at-bat and adding a three-run triple. The six RBIs were a Major League record for a debut game, and he was the third youngest ever to homer in his first career at-bat. While he hit only two more homers the rest of the season, Castro finished the season with a .300 average — good for 10th place in the National League. Defensively, Castro made dazzling plays but also youthful mistakes, and was charged with 27 errors.

2. Tyler Colvin’s bat attack

Colvin won a spot on the Opening Day roster with a strong spring, but it was difficult for Piniella to fit the rookie in the outfield. When he did play, he produced — batting .315 in his first 59 games. Colvin’s season ended prematurely on Sept. 19, when he was struck in the chest by a broken bat, resulting in a collapsed lung and prompting debate on the merits of maple bats. He ended his first full season with 20 home runs, fourth most by a Cubs rookie and second among NL rookies.

1. Departures of Lilly, Theriot, Fontenot and Lee

At the Trade Deadline, the Cubs were in fourth place and 11 games back in the NL Central. It was time to look ahead and Lilly and Ryan Theriot were first to go, getting traded July 31 to the Dodgers for Blake DeWitt and two Minor League pitchers. On Aug. 11, Mike Fontenot only needed to walk down the hallway from the visitor’s clubhouse to the home quarters, as he was traded to the Giants when the Cubs were in San Francisco. One week later, Lee was dealt to Atlanta and a chance at postseason play for three Minor Leaguers. His first game for the Braves, strangely enough, was at Wrigley Field on Aug. 20.

Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. She writes a blog, Muskat Ramblings, and you can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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