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After the way they played Friday, the
Chicago Cubs
probably wouldn't mind if rain washed out the remainder of their series against the
San Diego Padres
.
The Cubs try to avoid their sixth straight loss to the Padres this season when the teams continue a three-game series on Saturday
at Wrigley Field.
The Padres (20-16) swept the Cubs (15-20) when the two teams met last weekend for a four-game set in San Diego, and have won
12 of 14 overall.
While the Cubs offense has struggled since losing
Derek Lee
to a broken wrist on April 19, they have scored 23 runs in the last six games after scoring just six times in eight games.
But Chicago's pitching staff continues to struggle, posting a 7.55 ERA while the team has dropped 12 of 14.
On Friday, Chicago lost 10-5 as San Diego took advantage rough outings by rookie
Angel Guzman
and veteran
Glendon Rusch
, who combined to allow eight runs, 10 hits and six walks over 4 2-3 innings.
Mike Piazza
had his first four-hit game, and
Dave Roberts
added three hits to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. Roberts is batting .422 (19-for-45) with nine stolen bases during
his hitting streak.
Greg Maddux
(5-2, 3.64 ERA) will try to bounce back from two poor starts after winning his first five decisions. He faced the Padres Monday
in San Diego, and lasted a season-low 3 2-3 innings, giving up seven runs and nine hits in an 8-3 loss.
''The easiest way to win a game is to shut the other team down, and I didn't do it,'' he said. ''You'd like to come in and
control the first five or six innings and see what happens from there. I never gave us a chance.''
In his first five starts, Maddux allowed only five runs, 23 hits and opponents hit .191 against him in 33 1-3 innings. This
month, he has been tagged for 12 runs, 19 hits in just 8 2-3 innings, and opponents have batted .463 against him.
Maddux leads all active pitchers with 323 wins, and needs one more to tie
Nolan Ryan
and
Don Sutton
for 13th place on the all-time list.
Maddux is 23-15 with a 3.15 ERA and nine complete games in 42 starts against the Padres.
Chris Young
(3-2, 3.61), who opposed Maddux and the Cubs for the first time on Monday, will face him again in this contest. The win was
Young's first since April 17.
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