National League Preview from The Sports Network
Saturday, May 12th
(All times Eastern)
Chicago Cubs (13-19) at Milwaukee Brewers (14-18), 1:05 p.m.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Chicago - Chris Volstad (0-4, 6.55)
Milwaukee - Shaun Marcum (1-1, 3.41)
(Sports Network) - The Cubs have lost nine straight games at Milwaukee and
Chris Volstad has yet to break into the win column this year. Chicago aims to
end both of those streaks this afternoon as its three-game series resumes at
Miller Park.
Last night's contest lasted over five hours. Corey Hart belted a game-tying
two-run blast in the ninth and added a game-winning RBI single in the 13th
inning in an 8-7 final.
Rickie Weeks and Ryan Braun were each hit by a pitch from Lendy Castillo (0-1)
to start the bottom of the 13th inning before Aramis Ramirez singled into
right to load the bases with no outs.
"Castillo hit the first two guys so you knew our chances weren't good after
that," said Cubs manager Dale Sveum.
Hart then slapped a single up the middle for his fourth hit of the night,
scoring Weeks from third to give the Brewers their ninth straight home victory
over the Cubs.
Vinnie Chulk (1-0) got the victory after tossing two scoreless innings in
relief. Hart and Jonathan Lucroy each knocked in three runs as Milwaukee won
its second contest in three tries.
"It was an interesting ball game," said Brewers manager Ron Roenicke. "I
didn't know what was going to happen. A lot of weird things."
Brewers hitters walked 14 times last night, marking the third-highest walk
total in franchise history.
Milwaukee's John Axford last night had a streak of 49 consecutive saves
snapped.
David DeJesus smacked a grand slam and added an RBI triple while Alfonso
Soriano added two hits and an RBI, but the Cubs dropped their second in their
last three.
Volstad, who had just five wins in 18 decisions in what turned out to be his
final season with the Marlins, has yet to taste victory in six starts this
year with Chicago and has a bulging 6.55 ERA. The righty, who has given up at
least four runs in each of his last four starts, is 1-1 with a 2.30 ERA in
five contests against the Brewers.
Shaun Marcum gets the start today for the Brewers. He last started on Sunday
at San Francisco and received a no-decision in the Brewers' 4-3, 11-inning
defeat. He has not recorded a decision over his last four starts.
Over his career, Marcum is 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA against the Cubs.
The Cubs have a couple of noteworthy batting streaks intact. First baseman
Bryan LaHair has now reached base safely in 28 straight games after receiving
an intentional walk in the 13th inning last night. Shortstop Starlin Castro
has a 10-game hitting streak.
The Cubs placed relief pitcher Carlos Marmol on the 15-day disabled list
Saturday because of a right hamstring strain. Marmol was hurt during Friday's
game against Milwaukee, leaving the contest with two outs in the seventh
inning. He returned to Chicago for an MRI exam, which revealed the severity of
the injury.
Replaced as the team's closer last week, Marmol had struggled to a record of
0-1 with two saves and a 6.35 earned run average in 15 appearances this
season. He had 34 saves last year and 38 saves in 2010.
The Cubs recalled pitcher Casey Coleman from Triple-A Iowa to fill the roster
spot. Coleman was 2-3 with a 3.48 ERA in seven games, including six starts,
for Iowa.
Milwaukee won 10 of the 16 meetings last season and took three of four in a
series at Wrigley Field this year from April 9-12.
05/12 12:38:25 ET

|