One of the main storylines coming into the Cubs/Red Sox series finale Sunday night, was Matt Garza being scratched from his scheduled start with elbow tightness. Unfortunately it was the Cubs inability to hit Tim Wakefield’s knuckleball that was the biggest factor in Boston’s 5-1 win.
Wakefield was dominant in his third start of the season. He went six and two thirds innings allowing one run on just four hits. The righty improved his record to 1-1 on the season.
James Russell (1-5) took the loss for the Cubs. Russell went four innings and allowed just three runs and kept the Cubs in the game.
The Cubs closed the gap to 3-1 in the seventh thanks to an RBI double by Jeff Baker. That would be the closest the Cubs would get though. In the bottom of the seventh Kevin Youkilis hit a triple off Kerry Wood that knocked in two runs and put the game out of reach.
Before the game the Cubs placed Marlon Byrd on the DL. Byrd was struck in the face by a pitch Saturday evening and suffered multiple facial fractures.
The Cubs now return home. They have an off day Monday and begin a nine game homestand Tuesday against the New York Mets.