Wood does it all in series finale win

Jul 28, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher

(37) pitches the ball against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at AT

For the third straight day, the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs battled to the finish.

And for the third straight day, the Cubs claimed a ‘W”, this time by a 2-1 final.

Chicago hadn’t swept the Giants in San Francisco since two decades ago, 1993.

Gas was $1.16 per gallon. Stamps cost 29 cents.A new car averaged just over $12,000.00.

Yeah, it’s been that long.

However, in the fashion of how things are going for the defending World Champions, the Cubs (48-55) completed the three-game sweep in front of the black and orange faithful, with Kevin Gregg picking up his third save in as many days, and number 20 on the year.

Cubs’ catcher Welington Castillo was the difference, as he connected on a solo shot in the top of the seventh inning against Tim Lincecum (5-11), who turned in a strong outing, allowing just two runs on four hits, while striking out 10 Chicago batters.

Pedro Strop pitched for the third straight day, and turned in another strong performance out of the Chicago bullpen, working through the heart of the Giants (46-58) order in the eighth inning, including Buster Posey, who went 0-for-11 in the series.

Travis Wood (7-7) turned in a gutsy outing, as he struggled with location problems all afternoon, but still held the Giants ( struggling offense to just one unearned run, which came in the bottom of the fifth when Pablo Sandoval doubled to left field, tying the game 1-1.

Wood contributed to his own cause, cracking a solo home run in the top of that frame, marking the third time this year he has homered. This is the most home runs in a season by a Cubs’ pitcher since Carlos Zambrano hit four in 2009.

The left-hander pitched seven innings, allowing just the lone run on four hits, while striking out seven and walking four.

The Cubs return home to begin a series against the Milwaukee Brewers Monday, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT. Jeff Samardzija (6-9, 3.94 ERA) toes the rubber for Chicago and will be opposed by Kyle Lohse (7-7, 3.37 ERA).