If you needed a summary of the 2011 Chicago Cubs, the eighth inning Sunday would have given you an excellent portrait of how bad it has been. The inning started out with Kerry Wood striking out Mike Stanton, but Stanton reached first base because of a wild pitch. Wood then got Mike Cameron to ground out into a double play and the game remained tied. John Buck was then hit by a pitch and Wes Helms walked. Pinch runner Brett Hayes appeared to have been picked off second base but was called safe. Emilio Bonifacio reached on an infield single which loaded the bases. Greg Dobbs then walked with the bases loaded to give the Marlins the lead and Logan Morrison followed that up with a two run single that put the game out of reach. All taking place with two outs.
Randy Wells struggled again for the Cubs Sunday. Wells went six innings and gave up four runs on eight hits. Most of the damage came early and Wells did settle down and earned a no decision.
Kerry Wood took the loss on Sunday. Wood went one inning and allowed three runs on two hits and two walks. The Cubs righty is now 1-5 on the season.
Chris Volstad didn’t last long for the Marlins Sunday. Volstad went only three innings and gave up four runs on six hits. The Marlins bullpen on the other hand was fantasic. Five relievers combined to give up just two hits and one run in six innings of work. Edward Mujica earned the victory improving to 8-2 on the season and Leo Nunez pitched the ninth to earn his 26th save.
Things don’t get any easier for the Cubs as the Philadelphia Phillies come to Wrigley to start a three-game series Monday.