Chicago Defender

Cubs blow another late lead, lose 5-4 to Cardinals

Chicago Cubs' Anthony Rizzo hits an RBI double off St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jake Westbrook, scoring Luis Valbuena, during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 8, 2013, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

There were the four double plays, one in every inning from the fifth to the eighth. Mix in a wild pitch, an error and a shaky outing from a usually reliable reliever, and that was enough.

At the plate and in the field, the Chicago Cubs just plain sputtered when they had to make a play on Wednesday.

Anthony Rizzo had three hits and Nate Schierholtz doubled home a pair of runs, but the Cubs blew a late one-run lead in a 5-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

"We just can't seem to shut anybody down in the sixth, seventh inning," manager Dale Sveum said. "We're getting two strikes on people, we just can't make a pitch when we have to."

Carlos Beltran had three hits and two RBIs as St. Louis won for the seventh time in eight games and improved to a major league-best 14-7 on the road. The Cardinals went 5-1 on a six-game swing to Milwaukee and Chicago, with the lone loss coming Tuesday in their first game of the season against the last-place Cubs.

"We've been an opportunistic team," manager Mike Matheny said. "We make the most of the opportunities that we're getting, even though they're not that many right now. And then they're resilient, they just keep coming back."

The Cardinals trailed 4-3 before Beltran singled in Matt Carpenter in the seventh, and Jon Jay drove in Yadier Molina with a tiebreaking single against Michael Bowden (1-2) in the eighth. Each rally featured a costly mistake by the Cubs, with Carpenter moving to third on an error by right fielder Nate Schierholtz and Molina advancing to second on a wild pitch.

"I'm just trying to keep it simple up there," said Jay, who also had a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning and hit .500 (10 for 20) with a homer and eight RBIs on the trip. "Trying to hit the ball hard, and I've been able to get some pitches over the plate that I've been able to drive."

Cody Ransom had two hits and Luis Valbuena scored two runs for Chicago, trying for its second three-game winning streak this season. Instead, the Cubs finished a 4-6 homestand.

Beltran's tying single on a 3-2 pitch was the first run allowed all season by left-hander James Russell, who began the year with 13 scoreless innings over 17 appearances.

"I feel like the 2-2 pitch to Beltran could have gone either way," Russell said. "But that's the way it goes sometimes. If I make a better pitch to Carpenter then I'm not in that situation."

The Cubs had 11 hits, but were hurt by all the double plays. The last one was particularly heartbreaking, with the potential tying run on third.

"We just couldn't get the ball up in the zone in those situations," Sveum said. "We were swinging at balls below the zone and that was the difference."

Four Cardinals relievers combined for 3 2-3 innings of two-hit ball after Jake Westbrook had his worst start this season. Seth Maness (2-0) got five outs to get the win and Edward Mujica worked the ninth for his ninth save in nine opportunities.

"They did a great job," Westbrook said. "They got into a little trouble, but then they found ways to get out of it."

The afternoon game on a picturesque spring day in Chicago attracted 26,354 to Wrigley Field, and fans were treated to a little bit of everything. There were a couple of adventures on the basepaths, a rarely seen 4-2-3 groundout and a bunch of singles — just three of 22 hits were for extra bases. Julio Borbon of the Cubs was called out for interference for running inside the baseline in the seventh.

Chicago used Schierholtz's two-run double, which caromed off the wall in foul territory and straight out into right field, and a well-placed grounder by Dioner Navarro to take a 4-2 lead in the fourth.

Scott Feldman leads Cubs over Rangers 9-2

From left, Chicago Cubs' Anthony Rizzo, Luis Valbuena, Starlin Castro and Darwin Barney celebrate their 9-2 win over the Texas Rangers after a baseball game, Monday, May 6, 2013, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Facing his former team for the first time, Scott Feldman had one of the best starts of his major league career.

Feldman threw seven scoreless innings before leaving with a cramp in his pitching hand, and the Chicago Cubs came within three outs of their first shutout since August in a 9-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Monday night.

"I tried to just relax out there and everything, but obviously I know a lot of those guys and I've got a lot of respect for them," Feldman said. "I had a great seven or eight years over there and made some good friends. When we're not playing against them I hope they do good. But on a night like tonight, definitely want to try to get them out."

Feldman (3-3) has won three straight starts after losing his first three with the Cubs. He signed a $6 million, one-year contract with Chicago during the offseason after going 39-44 with a 4.81 ERA in parts of eight seasons with Texas.

He allowed two hits, struck out three and walked one, and also hit an RBI single in the fourth for a 2-0 lead. In Feldman's previous start, he pitched a three-hitter with 12 strikeouts in a 6-2 win over San Diego last Wednesday.

"He was really, really good again," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "And against a really good offense, too."

After he threw a 2-0 pitch in the eighth to David Murphy, Feldman was shaking his right hand and was checked on the mound by Cubs manager Dale Sveum and assistant trainer Ed Halbur, then replaced by James Russell.

Feldman began to feel the cramp during his warmup tosses and tried to get through the inning. Two pitches in, he knew his night was over.

"I think I had a lot of pitches anyway," said Feldman, who had thrown 104, "so I was going to need some first-pitch outs maybe."

Texas scored a pair of unearned runs in the ninth after a throwing error by third baseman Luis Valbuena. The Cubs have gone 68 games without a shutout since beating Colorado 5-0 on Aug. 26, their longest streak since going 75 games in a row without shutouts from May 15 until Aug. 6, 1999, according to STATS.

Anthony Rizzo had three hits, four RBIs and his ninth home run, and Starlin Castro scored three runs for the Cubs, who scored five times with two outs in the fourth to take a 6-0 lead. Chicago, last in the NL Central at 12-20, set season highs for runs and victory margin.

"I think we're a lot better team than what our record shows, and I think a lot of people would agree with us," Rizzo said. "We've lost a lot of heartbreakers so far, but today definitely feels good and everyone should feel happy about it."

The Rangers' Nick Tepesch (2-3) lost his second straight start, allowing six runs — five earned — six hits and four walks in four innings.

"He was good tonight as far as our offense was concerned," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "We couldn't do anything with him."

Coming off a three-game sweep of Boston, Texas returned to Wrigley Field to make up an April 17 rainout between Chicago's series against Cincinnati and St. Louis. The Cubs are hosting three teams in three days for the first time since Aug. 21-23, 1960.

Chicago went ahead with an unearned run in the first after David DeJesus singled, stole second and continued to third when the throw by former Cubs catcher Geovany Soto bounced into center field for an error. DeJesus scored when Alfonso Soriano beat shortstop Elvis Andrus' relay throw and avoided what would have been an inning-ending double play.

Feldman singled to spark a five-run fourth after an intentional walk to walked Darwin Barney, who was hitless in his previous 17 at-bats.

"I just didn't make a good pitch right there," Tepesch said. "That was basically it."

Castro and Rizzo followed with consecutive two-run singles.

Rizzo hit a two-run homer in the eighth off Derek Lowe. The Rangers scored in the ninth when Andrus doubled leading off against Rafael Dolis and Valbuena's throw on Adrian Beltre's grounder was well to the home plate side of first base. Soto, who spent parts of eight seasons with the Cubs and won the 2008 NL Rookie of the Year award with Chicago, hit a two-out RBI single. Playing against the Cubs for the first time, he was 2 for 4.

Wood outpitches Lynn in Cubs' win over Cards

Chicago Cubs' Alfonso Soriano (12) greets Nate Schierholtz at home after the pair scored on Schierholtz's two-run home run off St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, May 7, 2013, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum has his choice for best starter right now in the major leagues: Travis Wood.

Wood pitched impressively into the seventh inning to outduel Lance Lynn, Nate Schierholtz hit a two-run homer and the Cubs snapped the St. Louis Cardinals' six-game winning streak with a 2-1 victory.

Wood (3-2) allowed one run and five hits while striking out eight in 6 2-3 innings for his first win since April 27 at Miami. He has worked at least six innings in each of his seven starts this season.

"He's got it," Sveum said. "He's figured it out."

Wood earned his first win at Wrigley Field since July 1 when he beat Houston. Over his previous 12 starts at Wrigley, he was 0-7 with a 4.58 ERA.

Sveum added: Wood is "the best starter in baseball, pretty much" through the first part of the season.

Responded Wood: "That's a strong statement."

He had to be pretty close to beat Lynn and the Cardinals.

St. Louis' six-game winning streak was its longest since an eight-game run in July 2010, and Lynn was trying to be the National League's first six-game winner.

"That's a really good lineup," Wood said. "I was fortunate enough to be able to locate pitches and have good command tonight and keep them off balance and end up having a good game."

Carlos Marmol relieved Wood with two outs in the seventh and pitched 1 1-3 scoreless innings. In the eighth he allowed a single to Yadier Molina and walked Jon Jay before getting out of the inning by picking Molina off between second and third.

Molina stole second earlier in the inning, and Marmol stepped off the mound with the Cardinals catcher on second.

"I'm glad he made that mistake," said Marmol, who's had consecutive scoreless outings since allowing three runs in a loss to Cincinnati on Saturday.

Kevin Gregg pitched a scoreless ninth for his fifth save in five opportunities since signing with Chicago on April 15.

The Cubs have won two straight since dropping four in a row.

Lynn, meanwhile, pitched seven innings and gave up two runs and four hits while striking out eight. Last year, Lynn (5-1) went 6-0 to start the season, earning his sixth victory on May 7.

He might have matched that feat if not for Schierholtz's fourth-inning home run.

"You look back at it, you gave up two runs on one swing," Lynn said. "I got behind him and made him hit it and he put a good swing on it so you tip your cap there, but for the most part I threw the ball well. That was only one I wanted back."

The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead with no outs in the second inning when Allen Craig hit a 2-2 fastball into the left field bleachers for his second home run of the year. Craig, who hit 22 last season, has two in the Cardinals' last three games.

That was it for the St. Louis offense, which had scored 29 runs in its last four games.

"(Wood) made good pitches when he had to," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "We couldn't capitalize on the mistakes."

There weren't too many mistakes from Wood. He left with the lead May 2 against San Diego, but lost after he and the bullpen couldn't hold a 2-0 lead in a 4-2 defeat.

Nothing like that happened Tuesday against Lynn and the Cardinals

"(Lynn is) a good pitcher. I mean, that whole club over there is outstanding," Wood said. "They've got good players, solid players, good staff and everything. It's a confidence booster for us to come in and take Game 1 from them."

Heat, Bulls set to start East semifinals

Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah, center, scores a basket against the Brooklyn Nets' Brook Lopez, left, Gerald Wallace (45) and Deron Williams (8) as teammate Carlos Boozer (5) watches during the first half in Game 7 of their first-round NBA basketball playoff series in New York, Saturday, May 4, 2013. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

MIAMI — If needed, there's plenty of things Miami and Chicago could use as extra motivation before meeting in a playoff series, like how the Heat rolled to a win when they met in the Eastern Conference finals two years ago or how the Bulls snapped the reigning champions' 27-game winning streak down the stretch of this regular season.

Then again, maybe the simple fact these clubs don't particularly like each other is all the fuel they'll need.

Top-seeded Miami plays host to fifth-seeded Chicago in Game 1 of an East semifinal series on Monday night, with the Heat coming off a week of rest after sweeping Milwaukee and the Bulls dealing with aftereffects of a grueling, seven-game first-round series.

Chicago took an injury-and-illness-riddled roster into Brooklyn and ousted the Nets on Saturday night.

"Them being the Bulls is enough," Heat forward Chris Bosh said Sunday. "Heat-Bulls, I think that's enough to really get your minds going and have some passion for the series. I mean, it's the second round. We have some major accomplishments we're trying to get to and they're a good, tough basketball team. I think given our history before, that's enough to lace 'em up and get going."

The teams split four regular-season meetings, each going 1-1 in home games.

For Miami, the biggest injury question is Dwyane Wade, who is officially listed as day-to-day with bone bruises around his right knee, but is expected to play on Monday. For Chicago, the medical report is far tougher to decipher. Luol Deng wrote on Twitter that he would "see you guys in Miami" after missing the end of the Brooklyn series because he needed a spinal tap to rule out meningitis, and Kirk Hinrich missed the last three games of Round 1 with a calf injury.

The status of Deng and Hinrich for Game 1 remained unclear Sunday.

"We know how good Miami is," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "We're going to have to be at our best, or playing great basketball. They're a very deep team, extremely well-coached, very well-balanced. So we're going to have to be at our best, right from the start."

Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah, center, gestures during the first half in Game 7 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets in New York, Saturday, May 4, 2013. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

The Bulls arrived in Miami early Sunday and took the day off, which was surely a well-needed break.

Meanwhile, a couple hours before LeBron James formally picked up his fourth NBA MVP award, the Heat were in their practice gymnasium at their home arena, mouth guards in place, knee pads in position, going through a physical workout. For the first time since ousting Milwaukee, they took the floor knowing which team would be their next foe.

"We're preparing to make sure that we play our game, in our building," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We haven't played in a week and we understand that. We've been working hard this week. Our guys are looking forward to getting out there and competing. So let's tip this thing up."

The Derrick Rose watch is still on for the Bulls.

The star point guard hasn't played in more than a year after needing reconstructive knee surgery. Rose often works out before games and there's almost daily speculation about whether he will return in these playoffs — so the Heat say they will be ready either way.

"We gameplan with the awareness of everybody," Spoelstra said. "But again, the majority of what we do won't change. We've built up these habits."

Regardless of who's healthy or not, the Bulls got Miami's attention — as if they didn't have it already — by the way they fought through plenty of adversity in the opening round.

Bulls forward Carlos Boozer said after Saturday's win in Brooklyn that he didn't think many people expected Chicago to win.

"We've been hearing that noise all year that we don't have enough, that we're missing this and we're missing that," Boozer said.

James insisted the Heat aren't among those who might think that way. In fact, the now four-time MVP said he expected Chicago to pull off the rare trick of winning a Game 7 on the road against Brooklyn.

"It's how it should be in the East right now," James said. "It's the top four teams. That's what I believe. No matter the seedings, it's the top four teams, with us, Chicago and Indiana-New York."