Here we are in late April, yet it felt like October. No, not in terms of intensity but the weather. On a blistering cold night, the Cubs were looking to secure the series victory over the Washington Nationals. Chicago sent the local kid Tom Gorzelanny to the mound.
Gorzelanny has pitched well all season, but hasn’t recorded a win in any of his 4 starts. Gorzelanny was on point again on Tuesday night but it was the 1st inning that cost him. The lefty allowed 2 runs in the 1st but that was it. Gorzelanny went 7 innings allowing only the 2 runs.
The Cubs couldn’t solve Nationals’ starter Livan Hernandez. The crafty veteran allowed only 1 run to the Cubs. Chicago scored on a Geovany Soto fielder’s choice plated Soriano. Soriano had a head’s up baserunning play earlier in the inning when he went 1st to 3rd on a single.
John Grabow continues to struggle out of the bullpen. He pitched the 8th inning trying to hold the Nationals to a 1 run lead. However, Grabow allowed Washington to secure an insurance run pushing their lead to 2.
The Cubs didn’t go quietly however. They did put men on 1st and 2nd with nobody out in the bottom half of the 8th. Derrek Lee popped out for out number 1. Marlon Byrd advanced the runners to 2nd and 3rd but grounded out for out number 2. The promising start was quickly squashed as Aramis Ramirez hit a weak grounder to Adam Dunn to end the inning.
Justin Berg pitched a scoreless 9th preventing the Nationals from adding to their 2 run lead.
Nationals’ closer Matt Capps (who spurned the Cubs in the offseason) closed out the game to end the Cubs’ 4 game win streak.
Final Score: Cubs (10-11) 1 – Nationals (11-10) 3
WP: Livan Hernandez (3-1)
LP: Tom Gorzelanny (0-3)
S: Matt Capps (9)
Chicago will finish it’s 3 game set with Washington on Wednesday in day game action. The Cubs are hoping to win the rubber match to take the series. Ryan Dempster (2-0) will take the ball for the Cubs while Luis Altilano (1-0) will pitch for the Nationals.
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