San Diego, CA – Eric Stults and four other pitchers combined in a five-hit shutout as the San Diego Padres edged the Chicago Cubs, 2-0, in the opener of a three-game series.
Stults (2-2) gave up five hits and two walks along with five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings while Brad Brach, Dale Thayer, Luke Gregerson and Huston Street retired the final 11 batters.
Yonder Alonso and Everth Cabrera each drove in a run for the Padres, who have won three of four.
"Stults did a real good job for us on just three days' rest," said San Diego manager Bud Black. "After the first inning, where his pitch count was in the high 20's, he got real efficient and did great."
Reports on Monday said that San Diego majority owner John Moores has signed an agreement to sell the team to a group headed by San Diego businessman Ron Fowler and professional golfer Phil Mickelson.
Welington Castillo had two hits for the Cubs, who have dropped six straight. Travis Wood (4-8) dropped his fifth straight start despite giving up just two runs on five hits over six innings.
"Today was another grind, was behind a lot of hitters...defense made some great plays behind me, we just came up a bit short tonight," said Wolf.
The only runs of this game came in the fourth inning. With one out, Carlos Quentin doubled and quickly came home as Alonso singled to center. Cameron Maybin followed with a double and Cabrera's line drive up the middle was deflected by second baseman Darwin Barney, allowing Alonso to come home for a 2-0 lead.
The Cubs left men on the corners in the first and threatened in the sixth. Anthony Rizzo grounded out to start the inning, but Alfonso Soriano followed with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch. Starlin Castro then walked and Barch took over.
He got Castillo to pop out, but the runners executed a double steal. Josh Vitters, though, grounded out to end the frame.
No other Cub reached base and Street struck out Vitters to end the game and pick up his 19th save of the season.
Game Notes
The Cubs had swept a three-game set from San Diego in Chicago in late May...The Cubs left seven men on base...Stults came into the game with an 0-3 mark and a 7.24 earned run average against the Cubs...It was Wood's first decision in five games against the Padres.
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