Final
Cubs rely on Rusin versus Nationals
Aug 20, 2013 - 2:37 PM (Sports Network) - Lefty Chris Rusin faces the Washington Nationals for the second time in his 14th big-league start on Tuesday night when the Chicago Cubs host them for the second game in a four-game series at Wrigley Field.A 26-year-old from Detroit, Rusin debuted in the majors last season and went 2-3 in seven starts with the Cubs while allowing a .314 opposition batting average and striking out 21 in 29 2/3 innings.
He met the Nationals in the second of those seven starts and retired just three batters while being raked for five runs on eight hits in a game the Cubs ultimately lost, 11-5, at Washington.
Rusin opened this season with two wins in his first three decisions before falling back to .500 with a 5-0 loss to Cincinnati in his most recent start on Aug. 14.
In four career starts at Wrigley, he's 1-2 with a 5.57 earned run average across 21 innings, as opposed to his 3-3 record in nine road starts with a 4.17 ERA.
Washington opposes him with 32-year-old righty Dan Haren, who returns to a starting assignment after picking up his first career save in his most recent appearance on Aug. 17 in Atlanta.
The California native opened this season with 22 consecutive starts before being called into action for a one-inning relief stint that closed out an 8-7 defeat of the Braves.
He'd gone 3-0 in four starts prior, allowing just four runs in 27 innings while surrendering 14 hits, walking five batters and striking out 25 others.
Haren is 1-2 in five lifetime starts against the Cubs.
On Monday, Nate Schierholtz capped a career-high six-RBI performance with his second home run on the night and the Cubs rode Jeff Samardzija's complete game in a 11-1 rout of the Nationals.
Schierholtz finished 3-for-4 and the Cubs smacked five home runs as a team, with Donnie Murphy also clubbing a pair and Dioner Navarro providing a three- run shot.
Samardzija (7-11) was in full control, allowing just a Wilson Ramos home run and five more hits. He struck out five without walking a batter to get his first win in a month.
The Nationals lost for the fourth time in five tries, with starter Jordan Zimmermann (14-7) taking a beating. He was charged with eight runs on seven hits over five frames.
The Cubs won two of three when the teams last played in Washington from May 10 to 12.
- WASHINGTON: 4
CHICAGO: 2
Final
Aug 20 11:23 PM - Donnie Murphy lead-off Home Run (7) to left center. Brian Bogusevic due up.
Nationals 4, Cubs 2 Bot 9, 0 OutsAug 20 11:18 PM - Denard Span single to center scored Ryan Zimmerman. On the play, Jayson Werth advances to third and Denard Span advances to second on the throw. Runners on second and third with two outs and Anthony Rendon due up.
Nationals 4, Cubs 1 Top 9, 2 OutsAug 20 11:12 PM - Ian Desmond single to right scored Bryce Harper. Runner on first with none out and Ryan Zimmerman due up.
Nationals 3, Cubs 1 Top 9, 0 OutsAug 20 10:59 PM - Tyler Moore grounded into a fielder's choice, short to second scoring Ryan Zimmerman. Jayson Werth out at second. Runner on first with two outs and Anthony Rendon due up.
Nationals 2, Cubs 1 Top 6, 2 OutsAug 20 9:51 PM - Brian Bogusevic two-out, solo Home Run (1) to right center. Welington Castillo due up.
Nationals 1, Cubs 1 Bot 4, 2 OutsAug 20 9:21 PM - Ryan Zimmerman double to left scored Ian Desmond, advances to third on Welington Castillo's fielding error. Runner on third with one out and Jayson Werth due up.
Nationals 1, Cubs 0 Top 1, 1 OutAug 20 8:12 PM - WASHINGTON: 0
CHICAGO: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Aug 20 8:08 PM
Related News
- A few more thoughts about the Cubs’ offseason inactivity thus far Dec 26
- Cub Tracks’ box set Dec 26
- BCB After Dark: Happy Holidays! Dec 26
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Getting more pitching in 2024 + more... Dec 26
- Merry Christmas from BCB! Dec 25
- Outside The Confines: Merry Christmas Dec 25
- Baseball history unpacked, December 25 Dec 25
- ‘Twas the night before Cub Christmas, 2023 Dec 24
- Cub Tracks has garlic in its soul Dec 24
- Cubs historical sleuthing: Early 1940s edition Dec 23
- Cubs historical sleuthing: Ticket edition Dec 23
- Cub Tracks’ green Xmas Dec 23