Unlucky Seven

The good news was seeing Matt Garza back on the mound after an injury. The Cubs also scored a first inning run thanks to a Carlos Pena sac fly. But the offense only managed one more run after that despite matching the Reds with 10 hits for the game. The line up continued their strange anomaly of hitting for average but failing to get the clutch hit with runners on base.

Kosuke Fukudome continued his anomaly season of his own, going 3 for 5 from the lead off spot to keep his average over .300. We have yet to see the fade in his production that we have seen in years past. Blake DeWitt had a 3 for 4 day to build some more trade value for himself. The lefty handed stick and utility man has performed well in a reserve role, and that is the type of player contending teams will be looking for to add depth to their bench for the stretch run.

The positive of seeing Garza back quickly subsided as he gave up runs in each of the 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th innings before being pulled. To be fair though, it was his first start after being on the shelf, and the rust certainly showed.

Jeff Samardzija allowed three runs in his two innings of relief to pretty much put the game out of reach for the Cubs.

The losing skid has hit seven straight games now and with the tough schedule ahead this month, things do not look like they will be getting better any time soon.