Mathes Sets Record in Cubs Win
Mathes (8-6) pitched 6.2 innings and allowed two runs on five hits, walked one, and struck out four. Tonight's outing was his 10th quality start in 18 outings this year.
The Cubs struck first with a run in the first inning and never trailed in the game. Express starter Shane Loux walked Sam Fuld to lead off the game and walked Micah Hoffpauir with two outs in the first inning. Ty Wright followed with a base hit to left that brought Fuld in to score. The Cubs added a run in the third inning when Fuld led off with a triple into the left field corner and scored on a base hit by Darwin Barney.
The score remained 2-0 until the top of the seventh inning. Fuld led off with a single and stole second. After Loux hit Barney with a pitch, Brad Snyder grounded a single into right field to drive in Fuld and chase Loux (2-9) from the game. Hoffpauir greeted reliever Gary Majewski with a base hit into center that brought in Barney for a 4-0 Cubs' lead. Majewski ended the rally by striking out the next three batters he faced.
The Express scored both of their runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to chase Mathes from the game. Edwin Maysonet had an RBI single and moved to second on a two-out infield hit by Edwin Bellorin. Mitch Atkins came in for Mathes and Maysonet moved to third on an errant pickoff attempt by catcher Welington Castillo at second base. Maysonet scored on a wild pitch before Atkins got out of the inning.
The Cubs put the game away with six runs in the final two innings off Casey Daigle. Marquez Smith led off the top of the eighth inning with a long home run to left field to extend the Cubs' lead to 5-2. For Smith, it was his fourth home run of the season.
In the ninth inning, Bobby Scales led off with a single to extend his streak of reaching base safely to 27 straight games. With one out, Smith singled before Bryan LaHair ripped a pinch-hit double to drive in Scales for the first run of the inning. Following a walk to Fuld, who reached base five times tonight, Barney forced in a run by reaching on catcher's interference. Snyder lined a single to right-center that brought in LaHair and Fuld and the final run scored on a two-out hit by Wright.
The Cubs and Express continue this series tomorrow night at 7:05 at Dell Diamond. RH Thomas Diamond (5-4, 3.48) will start for the I-Cubs against RH Josh Banks (8-7, 3.33) for the Express. The game will be broadcast live on AM 940 with the Safeco On-Deck Circle Pre-Game Show starting at 6:40.