Reds-Cubs: No Runs, No Win for Chicago

Wednesday night, the top third of the Cubs lineup combined for five hits. The middle third left eight men on base. As a team, 14 were left stranded, and the Cubs went 0-for-4 with RISP. You can’t win if you don’t score.

The sore thumb sticking out is Bradley, who went 0-fer with three promising opportunities to drive in runs—strikeout, ground out, strikeout. He’s now 1-for-23 this season.

Cueto was dealing. He didn’t walk a single batter. At just 23 years old, there's a good chance he’ll be a pain in the Cubs’ side for a long time.

I thought Lilly looked good, but the guy has no luck against Cincy. He’s now 1-6 lifetime vs. the Reds, 0-5 dating back to last season. Although, he did pitched well enough to earn a win, but no pitcher wins without run support!

Hendry is calling up Samardzija from Triple-A Iowa. This is not surprising, and I hinted earlier this week that I was expecting some changes in the pen.

I wanted Samardzija in the rotation from Opening Day. The Cubs should put Marshall in the pen and use Cotts as the lefty specialist.

Ideally, if the Cubs want Samardzija to start, they should leave him in Iowa until he’s ready to join the rotation. But, the bullpen has a glaring need, there are too many walks and the bridge to Marmol and Gregg is incomplete.

Samardzija will help, but it’s another delay to the inevitable—No.29 is starter material.

• Notes: Cubs, (8-5), second Place

• W: Cueto (1-1) L: Lilly (2-1) S: Cordero (6)
  

• Neither team drew a walk.

• Lilly has not allowed an earned run in his last two starts (13.2) innings.
  

• Thursday’s starting pitcher for Cincinnati, Aaron Harang, is two strikeouts shy of 1,000 for his career.