Cubs-Braves: Incredible Start for Randy Wells Spoiled by Bullpen

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

To say that Randy Wells was fantastic would be an understatement. He was completely in control of all his pitches. He took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, and practically guaranteed his replacement of Marshall as the fifth starter with his excellent start.

The Cubs offense also got it started early, Alfonso Soriano led off the game with a home run. Randy Wells then helped his own outing by hitting an RBI single in the second inning. The Cubs would add two in the sixth inning, and another in the seventh off of a Derrek Lee homer, his sixth of the season. 

While great starting pitching and an offense that started early should've resulted in a one-sided game, but it turned out to be quite the opposite.

Randy Wells exited the game after allowing a home run and a base runner that reached on a rare Derrek Lee error in the bottom of the eighth. Carlos Marmol then came on in relief of Wells.

Now, having Marmol come into pitch in a game wouldn't bother me one bit—if it's the 2008 version of Carlos Marmol. However, the inconsistent 2009 Marmol came in to preserve the lead. Randy Wells should look into getting a time machine to get the 2008 version of Marmol, maybe bring Kerry back too, so that way he can get a win. 

Marmol came into the situation previously described, one base runner on first and no outs. Marmol then walked the typically impatient Jeff Francoeur. He then got the Braves' Blanco to fly out.

After getting the first out of the inning, he hit Norton. He then walked in a run facing Kelly Johnson, then allowed a sacrifice fly for Escobar, and finally ended the inning against Chipper Jones, getting him to ground out to second. 

Kevin Gregg didn't do much better in the ninth. He got McCann to fly out, then struck out Anderson, but he reached on a wild pitch. Prado flew out to center field, but then Jeff Francoeur tied the game with a home run. 

After the Cubs offense did nothing (with the exception of a Fukudome double) in the top of the inning, Angel Guzman made sure that the bottom of the 10th was an interesting one. He allowed a single to Diaz, he was then sacrificed to second on a bunt by Kelly Johnson.

Then, on a ground out to Theriot, Diaz moved to third. They then intentionally walked Chipper Jones and Brian McCann (after trying to pitch around him). Then, with the bases loaded, Anderson grounded out to Derrek Lee. 

Mike Fontenot led off the top of the 11th with a single. Bobby Scales pinch hitting for Soto then tried to put down a sacrifice bunt, but popped up the attempt, keeping Fontenot at first. Blanco flew out, and Koyie Hill struck out: The fourth straight scoreless inning by the Braves bullpen.

Aaron Heilman came into pitch the bottom of the 11th, who, like Carlos Marmol has struggled with his command here in the 2009 season. Heilman got Prado to hit a ground ball, but just out of Theriot's range.

Then, Jeff Francoeur did something he's never done in his professional career, he put down a sacrifice bunt, putting a runner in scoring position with just one out.

Heilman then knocked down a ball that was center field bound, and got the out at first, but allowed Prado to move to third. Kosuke Fukudome then made a fantastic catch in right field against Matt Diaz.

The Cubs, once again, did nothing in the top of the 12th with the exception of a Fukudome walk.

Aaron Heilman came back to pitch the bottom of the 12th, and allowed Escobar to single, steal, and then with Chipper Jones at the plate, lost the game for the Cubs. Chipper Jones singled to right, and Soriano didn't even try to make a throw.  

It was over. The bullpen had blown it again for Randy Wells, a game he definitely should've won. The offense was horrendous after the seventh inning. 

The Cubs need someone to step up, and I have a feeling that it will be Alfonso Soriano, he had some great rips today, including his leadoff homer. 

Notes: Rich Harden threw off a mound for the first time since going on the disabled list, and everything seemed to go okay. Harden may rejoin the rotation after a rehab start on this road trip. 

Milton Bradley left the game after trying to beat out an infield hit, he's listed as day-to-day and hopefully it isn't anything too serious. The Cubs can't afford to lose Bradley's bat, especially as hot as he's been recently.

Tomorrow's match up: Ted Lilly (6-4, 3.50 ERA) vs. Derek Lowe (6-3, 3.49 ERA)

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