Travis Wood dominant as Cubs take rubber match, down Phillies 3-0

Thanks to an afternoon of pure dominance by southpaw Travis Wood, the Chicago Cubs can cross another item off their to-do list: win a series on the road.

Anthony Rizzo homered in the top of the first against Philadelphia right-hander A.J. Burnett and Starlin Castro added a three-hit effort to pace the offense as Wood twirled eight shutout innings of three-hit ball to give the club its first road series win since last September in the form of a 3-0 shutout victory.

Burnett (4-6, 4.17) turned in a quality start of his own, tossing eight innings of three-run ball. He allowed the lone home run to Rizzo in the top of the first, the Cubs’ first baseman’s 14th of the season, and did not walk a batter in the loss.

Wood, however, one-upped his counterpart in every way. He did not allow a hit until the bottom of the sixth, when Phillies outfielder Ben Revere hit a single with one out. However, the Chicago lefty didn’t rattle, allowing just three hits on the afternoon.

With the Cubs leading 1-0, Castro singled to left in the top of the third, driving in Justin Ruggiano for his 35th RBI of the season. With his recent hot spell, the Cubs’ shortstop has raised his average to .281, while Rizzo has matched him blow-for-blow, with a season mark of .282 to go along with his 14 long-balls.

An RBI double by Nate Schierholtz accounted for the final Chicago run in the top of the sixth inning and Neil Ramirez nailed down his third save of the season in a perfect ninth.

Chicago tallied eight hits on the afternoon, but Castro was the only one to record multiple base knocks. The team, as a whole, did not record a walk against Phillies pitching, but struck out just six times.

Ricky Renteria and his club continue their road trip in Miami Monday night against the Marlins, with first pitch slated for 6:10 p.m. Jason Hammel (6-4, 2.81 ERA) will take the hill for Chicago and will be opposed by right-hander Tom Koehler (5-5, 3.68 ERA).