Cubs Win Streak at Three

The Cubs have struggled to make the most of the positive outings by Travis Wood so far this season. With the way the visitors started the series in Miami, there was a sense that they were in good position to secure the series win on Saturday night. The Cubs offense got Wood a 1-0 lead in the first inning thanks to David DeJesus and the Marlins defense. The lead off man hit a double towards the right field corner that Giancarlo Stanton could not cleanly scoop, allowing DeJesus to make his way to third on the error. The Cubs center fielder would come home thanks to a wild pitch by Alex Sanabia.

Apr 27, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Chicago Cubs right fielder David DeJesus (left) is greeted by left fielder Alfonso Soriano (right) after DeJesus scores a run on a passed ball in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Luis Valbuena made it 2-1 with a RBI single up the middle, cashing in a RISP in the form of Nate Schierholtz, who led off the second with a double. Unfortunately for Wood, he got tagged for another solo shot in the bottom half of the second to tie the game up after allowing a literal moonshot to Stanton over the left field video board in the first inning.

What was shaping up to be a run scoring fest was snuffed out by both starting pitchers, with Wood settling down to go six frames while only allowing three hits and one walk with five punch outs. The lefty was lifted in the top of the seventh as Dale Sveum tried to push for the go ahead run with two outs and a runner at first. Wood’s teammates put him in position for the win when DeJesus drove in Welington Castillo. Another hit with a RISP!

The Cubs bullpen held it down for Wood the rest of the way, capped off by a perfect inning by Kevin Gregg for his second save in as many games. The North Siders go for the series sweep on Sunday afternoon and a chance to return the favor to the home team Marlins after the Cubs got swept out of the new Miami ballpark last season.