Digg|
Save|
License|
Print|
E-mail|
Double-click any word or phrase in the story to search this site.
May 10, 2008 - 4:22PM
Updated: May 10, 2008 - 9:37PM
Cubs rally as D-Backs bullpen costs Scherzer win
Jack Magruder, Tribune
CHICAGO — The Diamondbacks entrusted Max Scherzer’s first major league victory to their bullpen Saturday, usually as certain as a sunrise.
D-Backs notebook: Scherzer shows command
Read Jack Magruder's blog, 'Inside Baseball'
The Chicago Cubs did not let it happen, though, scoring six runs off relievers Chad Qualls and Brandon Medders in a six-run seventh inning for a 7-2 victory at Wrigley Field.
Scherzer, playing in front of 22 family members and five friends who made the drive from St. Louis, gave up five hits and no earned runs in six innings, leaving with a 2-1 lead after throwing 82 pitches.
“We said all along we will be real careful with him,” manager Bob Melvin said.
“Ninety (pitches) is going to be his top. He certainly did his job. We just couldn’t finish it off.”
The D-Backs (23-14) have lost five of their past seven games after a start so good that they still have the best record in the major leagues.
Justin Upton walked with the bases loaded and Mark Reynolds added a run-scoring ground-out for a 2-1 lead in the sixth before the Cubs rallied off Qualls, who entered with a 0.93 ERA and 11 holds, second in the NL.
Four of the five batters Qualls faced got hits, with Alfonso Soriano’s run-scoring double breaking a 2-all tie before Ryan Theriot’s single up the middle extended the Cubs’ lead. Kosuke Fukudome capped the big inning with a two-run home run.
“I made a bunch of good pitches to Soriano. He battled me. The one mistake I did make to him, he hit in the gap,” Qualls said. “It was a tough day. Trying to get a win for Max … he did a great job. It’s unbelievable to come out to Wrigley Field and the environment and everything else and do as well as he did.”
“My goal today was to get ahead of hitters, and I feel I accomplished that,” Scherzer said.
News updates are sent daily. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Please add your comments, but follow these guidelines to keep this a safe, credible place for discussing the news: