Final
Lee, Samardzija tangle at Wrigley
Apr 5, 2014 - 1:51 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Cliff Lee has never lost to the Chicaog Cubs. Jeff Samardzija has struggled in his career against the Philadelphia Phillies.The two pitchers square off this afternoon when Philadelphia and Chicago resume their three-game set at Wrigley Field.
Lee was fortunate to start his 2014 season with a win, as the lefty was hammered for eight runs on 11 hits over five frames in a 14-10 season-opening victory at Texas on Monday. Lee is 4-0 with a 1.95 ERA in seven career starts versus the Cubs.
Samardzija is 1-3 with a 10.80 ERA in nine games (3 starts) against the Phillies. That includes an 0-3 mark with a 14.18 ERA in three starts. Last season, the right-hander was 0-2 with a 12.60 ERA in two starts against the Phillies.
Samardzija threw seven shutout innings in the season-opener at Pittsburgh on Monday.
The first game in the 100th anniversary of famed Wrigley Field didn't go the way the Cubs planned, as Philadelphia took the opener of this three-game series on Friday, 7-2.
It was another happy return for former Cub and current Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg. Chase Utley homered and drove in three runs for the visitors.
"We were just trying to put some good at-bats together. We got some guys on base," Utley said. "I felt like we got a lot of guys on base throughout the course of the game. We were able to capitalize on a few of those."
John Mayberry clubbed a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the eighth inning to give the Phillies some breathing room, something they sorely needed having suffered consecutive walk-off losses to the Rangers in their opening series.
Offseason acquisition Roberto Hernandez (1-0) yielded two runs on three hits and a walk over 5 1/3 effective innings to pick up his first NL victory.
Travis Wood (0-1), Chicago's lone All-Star last year, was tagged for four runs -- three earned -- on six hits over 6 1/3 innings as the Cubs dropped their fourth straight home opener.
"We've been having good at-bats. I think guys are seeing pitches," Cubs second baseman Darwin Barney said. "We're getting to the starter a little bit, getting his pitch count up, but we're not keying in on certain situations."
These teams split six meetings last season.
- PHILADELPHIA: 2
CHICAGO: 0
Final
Apr 5 5:15 PM - Domonic Brown single to left scored Chase Utley with one out. On the play, Ryan Howard advances to second. Runners on first and second and Wil Nieves due up.
Phillies 2, Cubs 0 Top 4, 1 OutApr 5 3:26 PM - Chase Utley two-out, solo Home Run (2) to right. Ryan Howard due up.
Phillies 1, Cubs 0 Top 1, 2 OutsApr 5 2:25 PM - PHILADELPHIA: 0
CHICAGO: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Apr 5 2:22 PM
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