Cubs Take Delayed First Game From Reds

The series got a late start with Tuesday's game being rained out.  Jeff Samardzija put a damper on the series opener once the rain cleared.  The Cubs won a 3-1 contest.


Last season Bronson Arroyo gave up 46 home runs, leading the National League with a team record. He has been much stingier with the long ball so far in 2012 but Bryan La Hair and Ian Stewart hit solo home runs to stake the Chicago Cubs to a quick 2-0 lead.  Arroyo had allowed two in 26 2/3 inning coming into the game.

"I tried to come in on LaHair.  I thought he was diving.  I didn't get it in far enough," Arroyo said.  "The other was an 0-0 sinker away that got up in the zone a little bit."

The Reds went through the batting order once without a hit off Cubs starter, Samardzija, but after Joey Votto walked one out into the fourth inning Brandon Phillips drilled a single on a hit-and-run play.  Jay Bruce, who can tie a Cincinnati record if he hits a home run in his fifth straight game, grounded hard to LaHair at first base.  Phillips got himself into a run down long enough to allow Votto to score.

Geovanny Soto hit a single, the third in the inning to drive home a run in the sixth.

"That's the one that hurt," Arroyo said.  "The way Samardzija was throwing that run put us too far behind."

Arroyo finished with six innings, allowing three runs on nine hits and a walk.

"Bronson kept us in the game.  He only made two mistakes but when a guy is throwing like Samardzija did that's enough to beat you.  Samardzija was throwing pretty good against us.  That wasn't us (losing) it was him," Dusty Baker said.

Samardzjia was dominant.  He allowed just three hits two outs into the eight inning, including a double by Bruce in his bid for a home run that short hoped the bullpen fence.  Samardzjia struck out seven. A walk to pinch hitter, Todd Frazier ended his night.

As well as Samardzjia pitched his defense made three outstanding plays behind him.  Blake DeWitt turned a diving stop behind secondbase into an inning ending double play with Ryan Hanigan running from the batter's box.  Alfonso Soriano took a hit away from Votto with a diving catch.  David DeJesus made a catch after a long run on a fly ball hit by Chris Heisey.

"The Cubs played good defense.  When we did hit the ball hard they made the plays," Baker said.  "We didn't do a lot wrong but they did everything right.  You have no choice but to tip your cap to them."

Cubs first year manager, Dale Sveum, called on Carlos Marmol to close out the Reds.  He struck out Drew Stubbs and Phillips looking and Votto on a line out to left in between for his second save.
































































































































































































































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