Final
Hanson goes for Braves in opener with Cubs
Jul 2, 2012 - 2:47 PMVideo
A 22nd-round pick in 2005, Hanson debuted in the majors in 2009 and won 11 times in 15 decisions across 21 starts.
He was 10-11 in 34 starts a season later in 2010, then got to 11 wins against last year with an 11-7 mark in 22 outings.
Hanson was 5-4 in 2012 after an 8-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on May 28, but responded with an unbeaten June, winning four times in five starts to improve to 9-4 on the year and lower his earned run average to 3.59.
He was a 5-1 loser to the Cubs at Wrigley Field on May 7, a loss that dropped him to 0-3 against them in his career with a 4.41 ERA in 16 1/3 innings.
Tonight, Hanson will be opposed by right-hander Jeff Samardzija, who's lost four straight starts and six of his last seven decisions since beginning the year at 4-1.
The ex-Notre Dame football player had a stingy 2.89 ERA across his initial seven starts, but is 1-6 since while seeing the ERA swell to 5.05.
Samardzija was the winning pitcher in the May 7 meeting with Hanson and the Braves after allowing a run on five hits in seven innings with seven strikeouts.
He's 1-0 against them in seven career meetings and 2-4 in eight road starts this season.
On Sunday in Chicago, Travis Wood pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings and the Cubs finished off a three-game sweep, beating the Houston Astros by a 3-0 count.
Wood (3-3) remained on fire in July, holding Houston to three hits. The left-hander struck out four and did not walk any, continuing his hot hand after posting a 2.27 earned run average in June.
"That was about as good as it gets," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said.
Wood even scored the winning run, breaking a scoreless tie in the sixth after leading off the frame with a double.
"It's hard for me to bunt him, he's actually an offensive asset when he's up there," Sveum said. "Especially against a lefty, when he can get a fastball early in the count. It was the Travis Wood show today, no doubt about it."
In Atlanta, Washington's Ryan Zimmerman had three hits, including a solo homer, and knocked in four runs as the Nationals beat the Braves 8-4 in the rubber match of a three-game series.
Braves starter Tim Hudson (6-4) allowed six runs - five earned - on eight hits and two walks while striking out four in six innings.
The Cubs won two of three games from the Braves in a May series at Wrigley Field. Atlanta won four of seven from Chicago last season. The Cubs last won the season series in 2008.
- CHICAGO: 4
ATLANTA: 1
Final
Jul 2 9:43 PM - Luis Valbuena double to right scored Bryan LaHair, Steve Clevenger and Darwin Barney with none out, Valbuena advances to third on Freddie Freeman missed catch error. Runner on third with none out and Jeff Samardzija due up.
Cubs 4, Braves 1 Top 7, 0 OutsJul 2 8:54 PM - Martin Prado single to left scored Michael Bourn with two out. Runner on first with two outs and Jason Heyward due up.
Cubs 1, Braves 1 Bot 6, 2 OutsJul 2 8:42 PM - Anthony Rizzo lead-off Home Run (2) to center. Alfonso Soriano due up.
Cubs 1, Braves 0 Top 4, 0 OutsJul 2 7:58 PM - CHICAGO: 0
ATLANTA: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jul 2 7:11 PM
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