Scott Feldman leads Cubs over Rangers 9-2

[May 07, 2013]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Scott Feldman threw seven scoreless innings against his former team 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.

Feldman (3-3) allowed two hits, struck out three and walked one, and also hit an RBI single in the fifth for a 2-0 lead.

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.

In Feldman's previous start, he pitched a three-hitter with 12 strikeouts in a 6-2 win over San Diego last Wednesday.

Feldman 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.

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 as the Cubs stopped a four-game losing streak. Chicago set season highs for runs and victory margin.

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

Texas, coming off a three-game sweep of Boston, 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. Castro and Rizzo hit 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.

NOTES: Chicago selected the contract of OF Ryan Sweeney from Triple-A Iowa and recalled Dolis. RHP Kameron Loe was designated for assignment and OF Dave Sappelt was optioned to the Pacific Coast League team. ... Cubs pitcher Matt Garza made his second injury rehabilitation start Monday, throwing 54 pitches in 3 1-3 innings for Iowa. Garza, who hasn't pitched in the major leagues this season, is expected to make one more rehab start before Chicago reevaluates his status. ... Rangers pitcher Martin Perez threw 53 pitches in four innings in his first rehab start for Double-A Frisco. Perez hasn't pitched this season after breaking his left wrist March 3. ... Justin Grimm (2-1, 2.28) is expected to start for Texas on Tuesday in Milwaukee against Wily Peralta, while Travis Wood (2-2, 2.50) is scheduled to face the Cardinals' Lance Lynn (5-0, 2.75). ... Rangers C A.J. Pierzynski was given the night off. Lance Berkman, who has been the Rangers' primary designated hitter, also wasn't in the lineup.

[Associated Press]

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