Casey Coleman’s first Major League start is a loss.
The 23-year-old right-hander pitched in Thursday’s matinee match in Wrigley Field. The Chicago Cubs lost 5-1 to the San Diego Padres for their third defeat in a row.
Coleman (0-1) only gave the Cubs 4.1 innings in which he was tagged with three earned runs and six hits, striking out one and walking three. He did not receive any run support from his teammates. The Cubs only scored one run in their last 19 innings.
Coleman gave up two runs in the first. Will Venable led off the inning with a single to shortstop but was caught stealing at second. Then, Coleman walked Jerry Hairston Jr. and Adrian Gonzalez and hit Chase Headley to load the bases.
Matt Stairs, the next batter, missed a grand slam by a foot or two, but his double off the left field wall scored Hairston and Gonzalez.
The Padres’ All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez hit his home run No. 23 of the year in the third inning. He ended the afternoon by hitting 2-for-2 with three runs and three walks.
The visitors added one run in the eighth and one in the ninth for their 72nd victory of the season.
Cubs reliever Andrew Cashner’s wild pitch in the eighth let Gonzalez cross the plate from third in a bases-loaded situation.
In the ninth, Headley hit a sacrifice fly off Marcos Mateo to score Venable.
Padres’ starter Clayton Richard (11-5) scattered seven hits in seven innings. He did not give up more than one hit in an inning except the second in which the Cubs scored their only run of the game.
With one out in the second inning, Alfonso Soriano doubled off Richard and scored on Jeff Baker’s double.
The Cubs will try to avoid being swept by the Padres tomorrow in the series finale of this four-game set. Carlos Zambrano (4-6, 5.27) will start for the Cubs pitching against Mat Latos (12-5, 2.32).
NOTE: First baseman Derrek Lee was acquired by the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday. The Cubs will receive three minor leaguer pitchers in return…Third baseman Jeff Baker has a new defensive position on Wednesday. He started the game as right-fielder… Padres’ right fielder Tony Gwynn left the game after spraining his wrist during his at-bat in the sixth inning. Scott Hairston pinch-hit for him.
This article is also featured on www.sportshaze.com.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com