Game Ninety-Two - Cubs 1 Phillies 4 - 13 innings
WP - Clay Condrey (6-2) LP - Jeff Samardzija (0-1) Save - None
The Cubs offense continued their season-long struggles on Tuesday night in Philadelphia and wasted an excellent start by Rich Harden. Harden and Joe Blanton locked themselves in an old fashion pitcher's duel. The former teammates each allowed a run in seven innings of work.
The Cubs did not manage a hit after the seventh inning and the only baserunner was Aramis Ramirez in the ninth. Brad Lidge hit Ramirez on a 0-1 pitch but Lidge's mistake was erased on a 6-3 inning ending double play ... on a ball that bounced the Phillies' way. The Phillies' staff faced the minimum over the final six innings of the game.
After an impressive 1-2-3 12th inning, Jeff Samardzija took the mound in the 13th and retired Shane Victorino and Chase Utley to start the inning. Ryan Howard, who did not put a ball in play all night 0-for-4 with four strikeouts and two walks, walked on four pitches. Raul Ibanez worked a walk and set up the dramatics for Jayson Werth.
The Phillies' right fielder ripped a no-doubter into the stands in left on a 1-1 pitch from Samardzija. Jayson Werth's 21st home run of the year sent the Phillies to their tenth win in a row ... their longest streak since they won 13 in a row back in 1991.
The Cubs were over aggressive at the plate once again. They did not walk once in 13 innings and struck out 11 times, five in three innings by Chan Ho Park ... while the Phillies took seven free passes. One of the reasons for the Cubs' success last season was their patience at the plate and on Tuesday night they swung at a lot of first pitches.
The Phillies threw 162 pitches in 13 innings while the Cubs staff tossed 217 in 12 2/3.
The Cubs lone run scored on a two-out double in the fourth by Kosuke Fukudome following a lead off single by Ryan Theriot.
After the game Lou Piniella said Tuesday night was a microcosm of the season.
From the Tribune: "We've seen this movie before about not scoring runs. We're challenged offensively, I can tell you that. You don't score runs, you can't win. We've played this game so many times before that you get tired of complimenting the other team's pitchers. I'd like to compliment our hitters once in a while. We might need a couple of hitters at trading deadline."
Milton Bradley pinch-hit for Angel Guzman in the 11th inning on Tuesday night. As a part of the contract Milton Bradley signed in the off-season, the third year of the contract vested after 75 games played ... Tuesday night's appearance was his 75th of the year. Bradley will be paid $12 million in 2011.
The Cubs fell to 6-6 on the year in extra innings and dropped their second game in a row in which the offense did not show up ...
Rich Harden once again proved he loves pitching at night. Harden put together another excellent outing and put his team into position to win. The Cubs' pen, other than at the end, did a fine job against arguably the best team in the National League. The difference late in the game was the Phillies offense kept putting pressure on the Cubs, while Lou Piniella's crew just kept pressing.
Rich Harden's only mistake came in the bottom of the third. Jimmy Rollins lead off the inning and smacked a 3-0 pitch into the stands in right. Rollins' eighth of the year gave the Phillies a brief one-run lead.
Harden sat down the Phillies in order following the Rollins' dinger and allowed only one other hit, a leadoff single by Jayson Werth in the seventh. Harden tossed a season-high 116 pitches and he will receive an extra day of rest, Harden will not start again until Monday night at Wrigley against the Astros.
Carlos Marmol pitched two innings of scoreless relief on Tuesday night. Marmol struck out four, walked one and gave up just one hit. Marmol's command was better than in recent outing... he threw strikes.
Angel Guzman dominated the Phillies in the 10th and Aaron Heilman pitched out of a jam in the 11th. Sean Marshall retired Chase Utley and Ryan Howard to start the inning before walking Raul Ibanez with two outs. Lou Piniella brought in Heilman. He walked Jayson Werth but struck out Pedro Feliz to end the inning.
The offense's lone highlight was the Fukudome double in the fourth. They were a miserable 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position and left just four runners on base all night.
Tuesday night was another tough loss for the Chicago Cubs ...
Carlos Zambrano will face Jamie Moyer in the finale on Wednesday afternoon.
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