Squeezing out a win streak
Cubs take 2nd in row as Marshall, bullpen flummox Nationals
CUBS 5, NATIONALS 0
By Paul Sullivan
Tribune staff reporter
Published May 18, 2006
A rainbow appeared over the right-field bleachers of Wrigley
Field during Wednesday night's pregame rain delay, a sure sign Kerry Wood's
comeback is just around the corner.
The Cubs are looking for any good omen they can find because waiting on
starters Wood and Mark Prior to return has been a recurring theme for the last
three seasons. This year's wait has been more agonizing than usual because of
the crippling loss of Derrek Lee.
"We haven't pitched as much as we'd have liked to," Wood said.
"But hopefully that's going to change."
The Cubs seemingly have changed their momentum after a 2-14 slump. They beat
Washington 5-0 Wednesday night to capture their first series since taking two
of three from Florida from April 24-26.
Cubs rookie left-hander Sean Marshall, who was shelled for the first time in
his last outing in San Francisco, pitched six shutout innings, allowing only
one hit.
The only sore point for the Cubs was another nagging injury to Aramis Ramirez,
who left with a strained lower back in the third inning.
"We think he's OK," manager Dusty Baker said. "He has been
swinging kind of hard lately and wrenched his lower back."
Marshall carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Alfonso Soriano
broke it up with a leadoff single. Marshall said he wasn't aware of the
no-hitter, though it was the second time he had taken one into the sixth in
his last three starts.
Marshall entered the game limiting opposing hitters to a .209 average,
trailing only Pedro Martinez's .164 and Jason Schmidt's .199 among National
League starters. He has held opposing teams to four or fewer hits in five of
his last six starts.
Marshall cruised through the Nationals' lineup, retiring the first 10 batters
until Marlon Byrd walked in the fourth. Though Marshall walked four, he came
up with the big pitch when necessary, striking out Robert Fick with two on to
end the fifth and Marlon Anderson with two on to end the sixth.
"It's just a matter of me building up my confidence, to be able to have
command of all my pitches," Marshall said. "I pitched pretty good
with my changeup because my fastball was not as good as it has been."
The Cubs started fast. After Juan Pierre reached on a bunt single to start the
first, stole second and advanced on Matt Murton's groundout, third baseman
Ryan Zimmerman booted Michael Barrett's grounder to bring in the first run.
"That's my game," Pierre said. "The dirtier my uniform is, the
better I'm playing. My uniform has been clean pretty this season, so I'm
definitely trying to get it dirty."
Ronny Cedeno's suicide squeeze scored Jacque Jones with the second run in the
second, and Todd Walker added a two-run, bases-loaded single later in the
inning to make it 4-0. Pinch-hitting for Marshall leading off the sixth,
Freddie Bynum victimized Jon Rauch for his first career home run.
Now the Cubs await the return of Wood after 8 1/2 months of rehabbing and
dozens of updates on his status.
"I'm sure his adrenaline is going to be pumping," Baker said.
"Everybody is going to be pumped."
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psullivan@tribune.com
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