April 5, 2014- Phillies at Cubs - harleyhorse8's Dynasty

Arena Blog Dynasty Scores Sign Up ☰

harleyhorse8's Dynasty Blog

April 5, 2014- Phillies at Cubs

Posted on May 21, 2014 at 03:54 PM.

(0)

Philadelphia's Pitching Flummoxes Chicago on Way to Easy Victory

By Malik Danielson, MLB.com Journalist, April 5, 2014

CHICAGO- The Cubs were hoping for some good luck after the loss to Philadelphia yesterday. Unfortunately, what they got was anything but. Two righthanders would start, as the Cubs sent promising Jake Arrieta (0-0) to the mound against Philadelphia's largely unheralded summer signing Roberto Hernandez (0-0).

The first inning almost seemed to be a repeat of yesterday, as outfielders Ben Revere and Tony Gwynn Jr. reached on infield singles. A neatly-designed double steal took the double play out of contention, and a grounder from Marlon Byrd scored one. A sacrifice fly from first baseman Ryan Howard would plate the second. That would be all, as Chase Utley grounded to second to end the inning.

Roberto Hernandez came into the game like he had something to prove, setting down the Cubs in the first, second, and third, and allowing only one hit to Luis Valbuena, replacing Darwin Barney at second today. Arrieta settled down and blanked the Phillies in the second and third, but could not prevent two more runs from coming home after a walk, a double by Utley, a ground ball, and a sacrifice fly by All-Star shortstop Jimmy Rollins.

The Cubs were blanked for the fourth and fifth, despite managing to load the bases in the fifth. In the top, Arrieta prevented any further damage. In the sixth, Chris Rusin replaced Arrieta. Rusin has been getting some longer relief appearances due to the Cubs rotation's struggles, and he delivered, pitching two perfect innings. The Cubs would finally strike in the bottom of the seventh. After 3B Mike Olt reached on an error by Cody Asche, Welington Castillo walked. Justin Ruggiano, pinch hitting, would continue his slight streak as he singled, loading the bases. Unlike the fifth, the Cubs would barely take advantage of it. Emilio Bonifacio grounded to second in what looked like a sure double play, but just managed to beat the throw, scoring Castillo.

That would be all for the Cubs. Lefty James Russell put in a good performance last game and was rewarded with two innings of relief, in which he did not allow a single hit. Unfortunately, the same was true for the Phillies bullpen, allowing Jonathan Papelbon an easy save for his first of the year.

After being on a bit of a hot streak, Emilio Bonifacio went 0-for-3 today. Hopefully this is just a bump in the road and he can return to being a presence at the top of the lineup. Luis Valbuena was the only member of the starting lineup who got a hit today. Surprisingly, none of the Phillies had more than one hit apiece, but they took advantage of their baserunners. The pitchers combined only had three strikeouts between them.

It may be early in the year, but it's fair to say the Cubs may need some help in the bottom of their rotation, and adding a bat won't hurt, either.

Game 3 is tomorrow at 1:05.

Malik Danielson is an independent journalist who writes for both MLB.com and Sporting News. Follow him on Twitter at @Mtheking93.

Philadelphia Phillies at Chicago Cubs
Apr 5, 2014	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Philadelphia (1-3)	2	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	4	3	1
Chicago (1-3)	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	4	0
W: Hernandez (1-0) L: Arrieta (0-1) S: Papelbon (1)

Philadelphia Phillies
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG
Revere, CF	4	1	1	0	0	1	0	.286
Gwynn Jr., LF	3	1	1	0	1	0	0	.250
Byrd, RF	4	0	0	1	0	0	0	.200
Howard, 1B	2	1	0	1	1	0	0	.389
Utley, 2B	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	.263
Ruiz, C	3	0	0	1	0	0	0	.278
Rollins, SS	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	.125
Asche, 3B	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	.118
Hernandez, P	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Nieves, C	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
TEAM TOTALS	28	4	3	4	2	1	0
BATTING: 2B: Utley (2) RBI: Rollins (1), Howard (4), Byrd (3), Ruiz (1) SF: Rollins, Howard
BASERUNNING: SB: Revere (2), Gwynn Jr. (1)
FIELDING: E: Asche (1)

Chicago Cubs
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG
Bonifacio, CF	4	0	0	1	0	2	0	.375
Sweeney, LF	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	.182
Castro, SS	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	.056
Schierholtz, RF	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	.214
Olt, 3B	3	1	0	0	1	2	0	.133
Castillo, C	3	0	0	0	1	1	0	.083
Valbuena, 2B	3	0	1	0	1	0	0	.333
Arrieta, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Lake, LF	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.125
Ruggiano, CF	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.294
Kalish, LF	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
TEAM TOTALS	31	1	4	1	4	7	0
BATTING: RBI: Bonifacio (5) SAC: Arrieta
BASERUNNING: SB: Castro (2)