• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Padres, Cubs play two at Wrigley

Apr 20, 2011 - 2:44 PM (Sports Network) - After getting shut out by Chicago in the series opener on Monday, San Diego's offense had an extra day to work out the kinks due to last night's postponement because of inclement weather.

Starter Dustin Moseley hopes the time went well spent as he takes the hill in the opener of today's doubleheader that will close out a three-game set between the Padres and Cubs at Wrigley Field.

These two clubs combined for just one run and 10 hits through 10 innings in Monday's opener, which featured winter-like conditions. Tyler Colvin's pinch- hit double scored Geovany Soto in the extra frame for the Cubs, who have now alternated wins and losses in their past eight games and seek to win two straight for the first time since April 4-5.

It marked the fourth time the Padres were shut out this season, but it was the first one that game without Moseley getting the start. The 29-year-old righty has lost all three of his starts this season despite a 1.83 earned run average because his club has been outscored, 7-0, in that span. Moseley has yet to allow more than two earned runs in any start and yielded just one run on seven hits and two walks over 6 2/3 innings of work versus Houston on Thursday.

He has lost both of his road starts this year despite allowing just two earned runs over 13 2/3 innings.

"It's frustrating, but you go out there and do your job and leave it up to the hitters," Moseley said.

Moseley will face the Cubs for the first time.

James Russell was originally set to oppose Moseley last night, but he will be pushed back to the nightcap. Matt Garza instead takes the hill for Chicago in the first game still searching for his first victory with the Cubs. He is 0-2 with a 6.27 ERA in three starts this year after coming over in a trade with the Rays this past offseason.

Garza dropped his second start in a row on Friday, yielding five runs on seven hits over six innings at Colorado while getting no run support yet again. He has allowed 10 runs over back-to-back starts, but the Cubs have also been outscored 11-0 in that span.

"I know it's a long season and it's gonna turn around," said Garza. "All I can do is keep battling and keep going out there and giving it my best."

The 27-year-old righty faced the Padres for the first time in his career on June 24 of last year and got the win after being charged with three runs over eight innings.

While Garza is still winless with the Cubs, Aaron Harang will try to remain undefeated in a Padres uniform when he takes hill tonight for the fourth time this season in the second game.

The right-hander is 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA through his first three starts, allowing three earned runs over 18 innings. He went six innings for a third outing a row on Friday in Houston, giving up a run on three hits with eight strikeouts.

"I felt really good, I hit my spots and I felt I could throw my slider in any count," Harang told San Diego's website. "It's been a matter of focusing and keeping the ball down."

The 33-year-old former Reds hurler is 10-8 with a 4.51 earned run average in 24 career starts versus the Cubs.

With Andrew Cashner still out with a right shoulder injury, Russell will make his second career start for Chicago.

After 59 career relief outings, Russell made his first career start on April 12, but was shelled for five runs -- four earned -- on seven hits over just 1 2/3 innings of a loss.

"I got some unlucky breaks," Russell said. "A couple of mishaps got in the way."

Russell has made two relief appearance since and hasn't allowed a hit over 1 1/3 frames in that span.

Chicago was swept by San Diego in a four-game series at home last year, getting outscored 20-9.

San Diego has alternated wins and losses in its past seven games overall.

Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome is expected to be with the team today after his wife gave birth to the couple's second child on Tuesday.