Cactus League: Cubs vs Reds 3/26/13

There are times where the final score line is far from an accurate description of how a game went. Tuesday’s game against the Reds was one of those games. You look at a lopsided 11-1 loss and you’re thinking a whole day full of bad pitching by the staff.

Wrong.

Cubs Opening Day starter Jeff Samardzija had a solid outing. He only allowed one run on five hits through five frames, while striking out four. Unfortunately the Cubs offense was not able to get him off the hook for the lone Reds score and The Shark was hit with the loss, his first of the Spring. If the 2013 season goes anything like the 2012 season, Samardzija and Cubs fans should best prepare for more than our share of quality starts to be thrown into the loss column unless the starting pitcher is tossing a shut out.

The final score was thrown out of whack in the top of the ninth, when the visiting Reds dropped a nine spot on the Cubs. To be fair, it started with a one out double allowed by James Russell. That is when Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde came into the ballgame. Carlos Marmol gave up back to back hits to allow an inherited runner to score along with one of his own.

February 12, 2013; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Carlos Marmol (49) during spring training camp at Finch Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

One walk and two hits later, Marmol has given up six runs while not retiring a single batter. His defense did not help, with an error at third base being thrown into the mix, but an outing like this is exactly what drives both fans and the organization alike nuts. Any slim hopes of trading Marmol prior to Opening Day are surely dashed now. The Cubs front office brass will be praying for good starts to the 2013 season for Marmol and Matt Garza so that both pitchers have some reasonable trade value come July.

Where is the discussion of the Cubs offense you ask? One run.

The Cubs fell to 16-17 with the loss.