Cubs vs. Nationals Series Review

Well, that's about what you could have expected going in to this season opening series. Big for the Cubs to take a win on this final day and take some momentum into the Milwaukee series, but the painful weaknesses for both individuals and entire units of this team continue to appear. Game reviews after the jump...




Quick game recaps

4/5/12
Opening Day was a whole lot of small ball and if there's one type of game the Cubs have been outmatched in over the last four years, it's been those they're expected to win with pitching, defense, and timely hitting. The Cubs were kept in the game early on by some helpful winds off the lake, but ultimately Kerry Wood wasn't able to overcome some questionable calls from the umpire in the eighth and Carlos Marmol's control issues with his slider reappeared to drop the tie in the ninth.

4/6/12
Many Cubs fans were probably checking out the 'Hawks third period meltdown in Hockeytown (yes, Detroit deserves that moniker), but another ho-hom start followed by a late-inning meltdown again plagued the Cubs at Wrigley. The first semblance of Cubs offense all year chased Gio Gonzalez after 3 2/3 and Matt Garza (5 H, 2 R) gave the Cubs a solid performance leading to a 4-2 lead moving into the seventh. Garza was pulled in favor of Rafael Dolis, who retired the side in eight pitches but was inexplicably pulled in the top of the eighth. Wood was brought in and knocked off the first two Nats in five pitches but gave up a shot to Danny Espinosa followed by two more hits. Senor Marmol was entrusted to get out of the inning and his control issues led to a line of 0.0 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 R. Nothing could be summoned from the bats for the next six outs and the Cubs fell 7-4.

4/7/12
Jeff Samardzija was outstanding allowing just four hits and striking out eight in 8 2/3. However, an off-kilter throw from Starlin Castro blew the potential final out in the ninth and Samardzija served up a gopherball to Adam LaRoche before giving way to Marmol for the final out. Marmol gave up his traditional leadoff base-on-balls before enducing a popout from former Cub Xavier Nady to survive a third sunny but blustery day at Wrigley.