The Chicago Cubs' search for anything resembling a reliable bullpen rolls on. Both Sean Camp and James Russell, the team's top two relievers (at least for the moment), combined to relinquish two runs in another crushing loss for the Northsiders.
Russell was the first culprit, giving up a homer to Minnesota's Ryan Doumit in the eighth inning to give the Twins a 6-5 lead. After Alfonso Soriano clubbed a two-run homer in the top of the eighth to give the Cubs a 7-6 lead, Russell locked down the Twins in the bottom of the inning. Camp relieved him at the start of the ninth, and promptly gave up a lead-off single to Josh Willingham and then a game-tying triple to Justin Morneau.
Miraculously, Camp was able to get out of the inning without giving up the game, despite the Twins having the game-winning run on third with no outs. That would be the extent of Camp's triumph, though, as he would eventually give up a game-winning single to Willingham in the tenth.
The two teams will take the field on Saturday at 1:10 p.m CT.
For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more from around Major League Baseball, visit Baseball Nation.
The Chicago Cubs' search for anything resembling a reliable bullpen rolls on. Both Sean Camp and James Russell, the team's top two relievers (at least for the moment), combined to relinquish two runs in another crushing loss for the Northsiders.
Russell was the first culprit, giving up a homer to Minnesota's Ryan Doumit in the eighth inning to give the Twins a 6-5 lead. After Alfonso Soriano clubbed a two-run homer in the top of the eighth to give the Cubs a 7-6 lead, Russell locked down the Twins in the bottom of the inning. Camp relieved him at the start of the ninth, and promptly gave up a lead-off single to Josh Willingham and then a game-tying triple to Justin Morneau.
Miraculously, Camp was able to get out of the inning without giving up the game, despite the Twins having the game-winning run on third with no outs. That would be the extent of Camp's triumph, though, as he would eventually give up a game-winning single to Willingham in the tenth.
The two teams will take the field on Saturday at 1:10 p.m CT.
For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more from around Major League Baseball, visit Baseball Nation.