Jackson Stays Hot Despite the Rain, Cubs Avoid Sweep

The Chicago Cubs and Edwin Jackson himself continue their terrific starting pitching as Jackson goes eight innings for the Cubs..

The Cubs avoided a sweep Wednesday night at Wrigley Field on the final game of a four-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers as Edwin Jackson pitched eight innings, while surrendering only one run on eight hits.

July 31, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Edwin Jackson (36) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Reid Compton-USA TODAY Sports

In the wake of three consecutive blown games by the Cubs bullpen, Edwin Jackson (7-11, 4.65 ERA) decided to take the game into his own hands and pitch like GM Jed Hoyer expected him to at this point in the season. Jackson’s performance is even more impressive as it was interrupted in the middle of the 6th inning due to rain.

The hour rain delay might have seemed like a blessing for the Brewers at the time, as it was uncertain if Jackson was to return. Jackson had a shutout performance through 5 2/3 innings, throwing 64 pitches, and surrendering only five hits before the rain began.

Jackson, who improves to 3-1 with a 1.83 ERA in five starts in July, would return to the contest and continued his great performance giving up only three hits and one earned run in his final 2 1/3 innings of work. The lone Brewer run came off an RBI double by Brewers first baseman Jonathan Lucroy in the 8th inning, scoring second baseman Rickie Weeks. Milwaukee’s offense was not able to muster many runs, but a few Brewers had multi-hit games such as Jonathan Lucroy, left fielder Caleb Gindl, and shortstop Jeff Bianchi.

The Cubs (49-58) offense did however drive in the necessary runs, showing signs of power to jump on Milwaukee Brewers starter, Wily Peralta, who fell to (7-11, 4.57 ERA) on the year after tonight’s loss.

The Cubs jumped on the board early in the 3rd with a two-run homerun to center field by first baseman Anthony Rizzo(15), scoring David DeJesus after he singled and advanced on a wild pitch from starter Peralta. July 31, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo (44) hits a double to deep right center during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Reid Compton-USA TODAY Sports The Cubs would go on to score two more runs in the 4th, a solo homer from Shortstop Starlin Castro(7) and an RBI infield single from DeJesus, which ricocheted off the Brewers starter.

The rain would roll in, but would not cool down the Cubs bats as they would come out in the bottom of the 6th with back to back hits from Wellington Castillo and Cody Ransom off of Brewers new pitcher Alfredo Figaro. David DeJesus would continue to be in the middle of the action by delivering a one-out 2-RBI double to push the Cubs lead 6-0. The Cubs once again had a shaky bullpen scare when Blake Parker came into the game in the 9th inning and put runners on first and second with no outs. Parker would get out of the self-made jam and put an end to a wild series with Cubs fans giving a sigh of relief.

Chicago would only scrape up eight hits, but with the power of the long ball and the pitching performance of Jackson, the Cubs were able to avoid being swept by the new basement dwellers, the Milwaukee Brewers.

With the win, the Cubs finished July with a 14-13 record, their first winning month since going 15-10 last July.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will come into Wrigley Field to begin a four-game series with the Chicago Cubs tomorrow, 8/1, at 7:05 p.m. CTD.

Probable Starters:
Chicago Cubs, Chris Rusin (1-0, 2.93 ERA)
Rusin shutout the defending world champion San Francisco Giants in his last outing giving up three hits over seven innings.
Los Angeles Dodgers, Ricky Nolasco (1-1, 3.13 ERA)
Nolasco will be pitching on seven days of rest after having his start pushed back, this is also Nolasco’s 5th start with the Dodgers after being acquired from the Miami Marlins.