The Pittsburgh Pirates avoided making history for one day, but it’s unlikely they can continue to do so given their recent history against the Chicago Cubs.
The Pirates are one loss away from a history-making losing season when they begin a three-game home series Monday against the Cubs, who have won 23 of the last 29 meetings.
One of Pittsburgh’s wins over Chicago this year, however, came against Ted Lilly (10-8, 3.17 ERA). The Cubs starter gave up three runs over seven innings June 30 in a 3-0 road loss, falling to 3-1 with a 3.99 ERA in eight career starts versus the Pirates.
Lilly will try to reverse his road woes when he gets the ball Monday. The left-hander is 3-7 with a 4.75 ERA in 12 starts away from Wrigley Field.
He continued his home success by giving up four hits in eight innings Wednesday in a 2-0 win over Houston. The Cubs have won nine straight starts by Lilly at home while losing his last five on the road.
Daniel McCutchen (0-0, 4.50) will make his second major league start for Pittsburgh. He gave up three runs over six innings last Monday in a 4-3 loss at Cincinnati in his debut.
McCutchen was originally slated to join Team USA for next month’s World Cup in Europe. The right-hander was instead called up from Triple-A Indianapolis, where he went 13-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 24 starts.
The Cubs will get a look at several left-field options as they determine when Alfonso Soriano will have arthroscopic surgery to "clean up" his left knee.
Soriano, who has been bothered by the knee since late April, will have surgery either in September or shortly after the season, depending on the Cubs' position in the wild-card race. That position took another hit Sunday as the Cubs fell 4-2 to the Mets, so it might be that he has the scope sooner rather than later.
Manager Lou Piniella used journeyman Bobby Scales in left in two of the three games at New York over the weekend. Scales has been a minor league infielder almost all of his career, but the Cubs may want to look at him as a super utility player down the line.
When the Cubs want power, they'll likely turn to Jake Fox, who has 10 homers and a .522 slugging percentage in limited time this year. Fox is a man without a position, as the organization has tried him at catcher, first base, third base and in the outfield.
Sam Fuld doesn't provide much pop, but he figures to compete as a fourth-outfield candidate next spring. Fuld will get starts in the bigger outfields on the road. He has speed and plays good defense. He could be a top-of-the-order candidate on days he plays if he can draw walks and get on base at a good rate.
METS 4, CUBS 2: RHP Randy Wells gave up only two runs (one earned) over six innings but came away with a loss. C Geovany Soto accounted for both Cubs runs with a pair of RBI doubles. RHP Kevin Gregg let the game get out of reach by giving up two in the seventh.
NOTES,QUOTES
RHP Esmailin Caridad was recalled from Class AAA Iowa (Des Moines). This is Caridad's second stint with the Cubs this year. He made his major league debut in August and pitched in three games. The Cubs will recall RHP Jeff Stevens from Iowa Monday. RHP Jeff Samardzija, who has been starting at Iowa, likely will be up Tuesday.
SS Ryan Theriot was benched Sunday. It's been a rough stretch for Theriot, who has a .335 OBP after opening eyes last year with a .387 OBP. Theriot is 1-for-9 on the road trip and is 7-for-47 since Aug. 25.
By The Numbers:
32—1B Derrek Lee and 3B Aramis Ramirez have homered in the same game 32 times. That's fourth in Cubs history. The top three involve some combination of Ernie Banks, Ron Santo and Billy Williams.
Quote To Note:
"I told my daughter before I left—she always asks me to hit a home run—so I told her I have to hit a home run for you and Dylan."
1B Derrek Lee after a two-homer game, which came two days after the birth of his son, Dylan.
ROSTER REPORT
RHP Randy Wells turned in his 16th quality start despite losing. He lowered his ERA from 2.90 to 2.84. Wells' 139 1/3 innings pitched are the most for a Cubs rookie pitcher since Kerry Wood worked 166 2/3 in 1998.
IF Jeff Baker went 1-for-3. Since the Cubs obtained him in a trade with Colorado on July 2, Baker has gone 39-for-118 (.331) with three homers, 10 doubles and 13 RBI in 45 games.
3B Aramis Ramirez homered in Saturday's game, but he was 0-for-4 Sunday and is 1-for-11 on the road trip. Ramirez is still in pain from the dislocated left shoulder he suffered in May. He said he'll continue to play, and he also said he is confident of avoiding off-season surgery.
Medical Watch:
LF Alfonso Soriano (sore left knee) hasn't played since Sept. 3, and he is out indefinitely. He is likely to have arthroscopic surgery in September.
CF Reed Johnson (fractured left foot) went on the 15-day disabled list July 30. He won't return before Sept. 8.
RHP Chad Fox (right elbow inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list May 10. He might miss the remainder of the season.