News
Wells makes use of extra time off
Chicago (61-58) at Los Angeles (72-50), 9:10 p.m. CT
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
08/21/09 1:30 AM ET
LOS ANGELES -- Randy Wells hasn't been spending his time off since his last start at the beach. He's been working. The rookie right-hander, who will start Friday in Game 2 of the Cubs' four-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, is eager to get in a game. "It's a big game for me, and I think it's really going to be a test for me to see what I can actually do," Wells said. "I don't think the extra rest will hurt." The Cubs opted to give Wells an extra day because he's thrown 113 2/3 innings, and they want him fresh in September. This will be his 19th start. He made 19 starts all of last season at Triple-A Iowa. Pitching coach Larry Rothschild has kept Wells busy with side sessions. "Whatever tweaks you want to make, you can make on the side," Wells said. "I don't necessary feel I need the extra time, but the extra time can't hurt, especially this late in the season and being career-high in innings. It'll keep me fresh. I'd prefer to go every five days, but that's not what the team needed, and it gives me a chance to rest a little bit." He didn't develop a new pitch in the interim. "I don't want to try to be too fine, and basically just want to get back to attacking the zone like I did early, and I should be effective," he said. Pitching matchupCHC: RHP Randy Wells (9-5, 3.01 ERA)
Wells had his worst start of the season on Aug. 9 against the Rockies but bounced back against the Pirates on Friday. He benefited from 17 runs of support, throwing six innings and giving up two runs on seven hits. The rookie has won nine of his past 11 starts behind a two-seam fastball that produces many ground balls and makes up for a lack of strikeouts. Wells has held the opposition to three earned runs or fewer in 14 of his 18 starts. LAD: LHP Randy Wolf (7-6, 3.43 ERA)
Wolf restored order in the wake of Hiroki Kuroda's frightening incident and a bitter extra-inning loss. He took a one-hit shutout into the eighth inning for his ninth quality start in his past 10 outings. He struck out a season-high 10 without a walk, effectively spotting both his fastball and slow curve, and he added his fifth career home run. He's 4-7 lifetime against the Cubs. Tidbits
Lou Piniella has met with hitting coach Von Joshua to discuss the offensive struggles that Alfonso Soriano and Geovany Soto are going through. "I let the hitting coach do it," Piniella said. "We've talked about a few different things that might help 'Sori' out some. The hitting coach does all the followup and the everyday." ... The Cubs and Pirates will play a day-night doubleheader on Sept. 30 to make up Sunday's rainout. All tickets for the postponed game will be honored for the 1:05 p.m. CT game on Sept. 30, and fans do not need to exchange their tickets. Fans unable to attend the Sept. 30 game can request a refund. ... Carlos Zambrano struck out five over five scoreless innings in a rehab start on Thursday for Class A Peoria. He gave up four hits and threw 76 pitches. Big Z also hit six home runs in batting practice. ... Expect Soto back behind the plate on Friday. ... Micah Hoffpauir reached base four times with two hits and two walks in Iowa's 10-9, 13-inning loss to Portland. Mitch Atkins gave up six runs on six hits over four innings. ... Andrew Cashner gave up three runs on five hits over four innings in Double-A West Tennessee's 5-4 win over Chattanooga. ... Lightning forced Class A Daytona's game in Tampa, Fla., to be canceled. ... Robert Hernandez threw six shutout innings in Boise's 1-0 win over Spokane. Tickets
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• Saturday: Cubs (Ted Lilly, 9-7, 3.42) at Dodgers (Charlie Haeger, 0-1, 3.86), 3:10 p.m. CT
• Sunday: Cubs (Ryan Dempster, 6-7, 4.28) at Dodgers (Chad Billingsley, 12-6, 3.70), 3:10 p.m. CT
• Monday: Off-day
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
