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 The Chicago Cubs left-hander pitched seven-plus shutout innings
while teammates jumped on starter Jason Marquis for four early runs
as the Cubs blanked the Cincinnati Reds 5-0 on a frigid night at
Wrigley Field.
"This game will always sneak up and find a way to bite you and I had
that pretty much last year," said Wood, who was 8-13 with a 5.03
ERA.
Now he's 1-1 with a 2.31 ERA at 2.31 and even had a base hit in a
Wednesday start that showcased an effective fastball as he allowed
just three hits and two walks while striking out seven.
"I was able to keep them off balance, get some early outs and pound
the zone and go deep in the ballgame," said Wood. "Our offense did
their jobs and scored some runs early. We played well on all
cylinders tonight."
Wood departed in the eighth with two runners on and none out.
Left-handed reliever Phil Coke coaxed pinch hitter Kristopher Negron
to ground into a double play to Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro while
center fielder Billy Hamilton then grounded to third.
"He had a hell of a game at shortstop tonight," Cubs manager Joe
Maddon said. "Played both left and right, some great throws and the
double play was huge when Coke came in."
First baseman Anthony Rizzo clubbed his first home run of the season
-- a two-run shot in the opening inning -- while center fielder
Dexter Fowler had two hits and scored twice while Castro went
2-for-3 with a run scored.
Chicago (5-3) took two of three from Cincinnati (5-4), which has
dropped four of five.
Marquis (0-1) worked four innings in his second appearance of the
season.
"It's tough to put your team behind hole like that," Marquis said.
"Unfortunately backed into too big of a corner this time. I've just
got to do a better job of coming out attacking the bottom half of
the strike zone with my sinker a little bit better."
Second baseman Brandon Phillips went 2-for-4 to lead the Reds.
Fowler's lead-off double to right opened the Cubs' first inning. He
scored as Rizzo's bomb hit between steel beams in the
still-under-construction field bleachers for a 2-0 lead.
The Cubs added two runs in the third, the first on second baseman
Jonathan Herrera's one-out single that scored Castro. Later in the
inning, Marquis faced a bases-loaded situation with two outs and hit
right fielder Jorge Soler with a pitch to force in third baseman
Arismendy Alcantara.
Catcher Miguel Montero's fourth-inning sacrifice fly with the bases
loaded and one out brought home Fowler.
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Wood didn't allow a runner until the fourth when he walked first
baseman Joey Votto. Then Phillips laced a single to right field.
Marquis didn't return for the fifth, pulled for a pinch hitter. He
allowed five runs, including four earned, and seven hits. He struck
out six and walked three.
"He just wasn't as sharp as he was before," said Price. "He had good
action on his ball, he just didn't command it well."
After a warm afternoon, temperatures plunged into the mid-40s by
first pitch and a brisk north wind off Lake Michigan made for a
36-degree wind chill.
NOTES: The Reds were 12-for-12 in stolen-base attempts entering
Wednesday, their best start since the 1987 club went 15-for-15. CF
Billy Hamilton led the big leagues with eight. ... 2B Brandon
Phillips was back in the starting lineup after leaving Tuesday's
game with lightheadedness after a collision with Cubs SS Starlin
Castro at third base. ... The Reds are off Thursday before opening a
three-game weekend series in St. Louis. RHP Johnny Cueto (0-1, 0.64
ERA) goes against Cardinals' RHP Michael Wacha (1-0, 1.42 ERA) on
Friday. ... Both teams wore No. 42 jerseys on Wednesday to mark the
68th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball's color
barrier in 1947. ... The Cubs' bullpen continues to sparkle, with a
1.50 ERA and .193 opponent average. ... Chicago manager Joe Maddon
slotted LHP Travis Wood No. 8 in the batting order, the eighth
straight game a pitcher has batted outside the accustomed No. 9
slot. ... RF Jorge Soler entered Wednesday batting .458 (11-for-24)
with four walks, two doubles and four homers in seven games against
the Reds. ... The Cubs have Thursday off before opening a three-game
weekend series against the Padres. After the Cubs played four of
their first five home games at night, the Padres series features all
1:20 p.m. starts. Chicago RHP Jason Hammel (1-0, 4.50 ERA) goes
against Padres RHP James Shields (1-0, 2.08 ERA) on Friday.
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