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07-28-2011, 06:34 PM

CHICAGO (AP) — For the second straight day, two bad pitches led to a tough-luck loss for a Houston Astros starter, no thanks to the offense. Wandy Rodriguez allowed solo home runs to Marlon Byrd and Geovany Soto and the Chicago Cubs beat the run-starved Astros 5-1 on Saturday. The homers accounted for two of the three hits Rodriguez (6-7) gave up over seven innings of work. He struck out seven and walked one. Houston's Bud Norris gave up a pair of long balls in a four-run fifth inning on Friday as the Astros dropped the series opener 4-2. "The pitchers are keeping us in the game. They're doing their part," said Carlos Lee. "The offense just can't score runs." Lee had three hits and the lone RBI for the Astros, who have 19 hits through the first two games — all singles. Houston's last 27 hits have all gone for one base, dating back to Wednesday. "I don't know (if it's a record)," Astros manager Brad Mills said. "I just know that we had some guys on. You get an extra-base hit or something to be able to push them around the bags a bit easier." The leadoff batter reached five times for the Astros. Lee singled home Angel Sanchez <a href="http://www.hockeynhljersey.com/nba-jerseys-miami-heat-c-364_374.html">lebron james jerseys</a> in the sixth to account for the team's lone hit in 11 opportunities with runners in scoring position. Houston left 10 runners on base. "It's tough. Myself, I'm making good contact, but I can't get any elevation on the ball. I don't know why," Lee said. "We had opportunities to score a lot of runs in these two games but we never come up with the big hits. We need to score runs." The Astros, who own the Majors' worst record at 33-67, have lost 14 of their last 18 road games and six straight overall. Randy Wells (2-3) pitched six strong innings to earn his first win since April 4. He allowed one run on five hits and struck out four, pitching around two walks. Chicago's bullpen backed up Wells. Marshall struck out pinch-hitter Matt Downs to end the eighth, leaving runners at first and second. Cubs closer Carlos Marmol was back in his normal role after struggling with control issues. Cubs manager Mike Quade temporarily removed Marmol as the closer earlier in the week. In his five previous appearances, Marmol allowed eight walks, but in a non-save situation on Saturday, Marmol was just as wild. After allowing a leadoff single, he hit Carlos Corporan, but then rebounded by retiring the next three batters. After winning in his season debut against the Diamondbacks, Wells went nine straight outings without picking up win. The right-hander was 0-3 with a 7.38 ERA in his nine previous starts and gave up at least four runs in five consecutive starts. Wells, who gave up a combined 12 runs in the first innings of his previous five outings, allowed a leadoff single to Michael Bourn and walked Angel Sanchez to start the game. After Hunter Pence popped out, Wells ended the inning by getting Carlos Lee swinging and Chris Johnson looking. "His control and fastball got better as the game went along and his offspeed pitches were very, very good. They had some good bites," Soto said. In the second inning, Byrd gave the Cubs a lead with a home run to center field on a 2-2 pitch from Rodriguez. It was Byrd's fifth of the season. Soto led off the fifth with a solo shot on an 0-2 pitch. It was his ninth of the season. "I tried to throw a fastball up. I missed a little bit," Rodriguez said. "Especially with an 0-2 count, I didn't want to throw anything close, but I missed and he hit it." Lee cut the Cubs' lead with an RBI single in the sixth inning. Sanchez scored from second, just beating Byrd's throw from center. The Cubs added insurance runs in the eighth. Kosuke Fukudome, who came in as a defensive replacement hit a triple off Astros reliever Sergio Escalona. Fukudome ended up scoring on Starlin Castro's infield single off reliever Fernando Rodriguez. With the bases loaded, Soto hit a hard grounder at third baseman Chris Johnson. Johnson made a diving stop, but made an errant throw to first allowing two runs to score <a href="http://www.hockeynhljersey.com/">wholesale jerseys</a> to make it 5-1. NOTES: Corporan, who was hit in the right foot, left the game for a pinch-runner. Mills said it was precautionary. "I'm plenty confident that he'll be OK to come back in the next day or two," he said. ... Astros third base coach Dave Clark missed the game to attend a funeral. Bench coach Al Pedrique filled in for Clark. ... The announced attendance was 40,486 putting the Cubs over the 2 million mark for the 2011 season. Other NL Capsules Martinez, Utley lead Phillies past Padres again PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Michael Martinez hit a tiebreaking three-run homer, Chase Utley connected twice and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the San Diego Padres for the ninth straight time, 8-6 on Saturday. Reds’ Rolen has little motion with left shoulder CINCINNATI (AP) — Scott Rolen raised his left arm to shoulder level, then stopped. That’s as far as it would go on Saturday, a day after the Cincinnati Reds put him on the disabled list again with an inflamed shoulder and neck. It’s an ominous sign for the struggling NL Central defending champions, who are much better with their third baseman healthy and in the lineup. "I’m not overly mobile right now, so something’s got to give," the 37-year-old infielder said. "I’m not ready to pick up a bat yet. There won’t be any swings for a while." Rolen went on the 15-day DL for the second time on Friday. He’s had problems with the left shoulder since 2005, when he injured it in a collision with the Dodgers’ Hee Seop Choi and had two operations. He missed the last month of the 2007 season because of the shoulder, and had it cleaned out. He went on the DL again in 2008 with a shoulder sprain. Rolen had one of his best first halves last season, batting .290 with 17 homers and 57 RBIs. The shoulder and neck began bothering him in the second half, and he managed only three homers and 26 RBIs the rest of the way. He was batting .242 with only five homers and 36 RBIs when the shoulder and neck began bothering him following a game Wednesday in Pittsburgh. It didn’t get any better during the Reds’ day off, prompting the Reds to put him on the disabled list for the second time this season. Rolen said it’s similar to the problems he had last season. "I think it stems from the same thing — the shoulder and the repairs and the whole works," he said. "It’s probably down the same road, for sure." When he went on the DL the first time this season, he got injections that helped eliminate the inflammation. There are no immediate plans for more injections. Rolen said surgery isn’t being considered. "I don’t need a repair," he said. "I don’t have a torn rotator cuff, I don’t have a labrum that’s torn. There’s no tears." The Reds renegotiated Rolen’s contract after the 2009 season, his first in Cincinnati. He got a two-year extension and an additional 13 million. Rolen has base salaries of 6.5 million this year and next. The Reds called up Todd Frazier from Triple-A to take Rolen’s roster spot. Most of the playing time at third will probably go to Miguel Cairo, who has been Rolen’s backup. "This ain’t a tryout camp," manager Dusty Baker said. "I’m trying to win games. Frazier played more outfield than third base (in the minors). Lately they’ve had him playing more at third base because of Scotty’s situation. "Todd’s chomping for an opportunity. I’ve got to see how his total game is, but Miguel is very important to this equation." Rolen planned to keep playing through the problem until it became much worse after the game in Pittsburgh. He said it’s probably better to rest the shoulder and let it heal. "I <a href="http://www.hockeynhljersey.com/nba-jerseys-c-364.html">nba jerseys</a> was beating my head against the wall, scratching and clawing to try to stay above .240," he said. "You try not to be result-oriented, but at the same time, you want to be productive and help the club." -- Joe Kay Santana hopes to pitch in minors next week MIAMI (AP) — Johan Santana sat in a corner of the New York Mets clubhouse Saturday wearing an orange spring training T-shirt, the apparel an appropriate match for the status of his comeback from shoulder surgery. For the Mets ace, this July is like February. He hopes to start pitching in games again next week, which would be a big step toward his goal of rejoining the New York rotation late this season. Santana threw batting practice to hitters for the third time Friday at the team complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla. He’s scheduled to throw a bullpen session Sunday at the Florida Marlins’ stadium before their game against the Mets, and if that workout goes well, he’ll likely begin a minor-league rehabilitation assignment. "Sunday is a big day for me," he said. "I hope that if everything goes right, I’ll get an opportunity maybe to get in a minor-league game." The two-time Cy Young Award winner said he’s still building up his shoulder strength, and there’s no timetable for his return to the majors. But he and the organization would like to see him pitch for the Mets before the end of the season. "I think it would be very, very important for him to try to get some outings this year, so that when he comes in next spring, the doubts are gone," manager Terry Collins said. "He agreed. There’s no timeline, but if he comes back and pitches the last two weeks of September, and goes out and has a couple of games and feels good and comes out of them with a positive frame of mind, I think that’s a big step toward 2012." Santana had a brief setback in his comeback in June, when he postponed a bullpen session because of soreness in the shoulder. But he said he’s pleased with his progress overall. "I’m getting closer and very happy with the way I feel," he said. "It’s just a matter of time." The left-hander threw 42 pitches in three innings Friday against minor-leaguers, and said he enjoyed the increased intensity that comes with facing hitters. "They were swinging and challenging me," he said. "It’s not the same thing when you throw bp. You actually have to get the guy out and find the pitches to make sure you get him out. That’s what I was doing." Last season Santana went 11-9 with a 2.98 ERA in 29 starts before being sidelined. He’s 40-25 since joining the Mets in 2008. -- Steven Wine Reds SS Cozart hurts left elbow on play at 2B CINCINNATI (AP) — Reds rookie shortstop Zach Cozart hyperextended his left elbow while trying to make a tag in the fourth inning against Atlanta on Saturday, forcing him from the game in severe pain. Atlanta pitcher Derek Lowe bunted with Nate McLouth on first base and no outs. First baseman Joey Votto fielded and threw to second, where Cozart tried to catch the ball and tag the sliding McLouth simultaneously. Cozart’s left elbow extended backward from the impact. He lost his glove and fell to the ground immediately, grabbing the elbow. He covered his face with his right hand while a trainer examined the elbow, then walked off the field cradling the arm. Edgar Renteria took his place. X-rays were negative. There was no immediate word about whether he go on the disabled list. Cozart was promoted to the majors for the first time on July 7. He hit safely in his first seven games, providing a boost at a troublesome position. The Reds started the season with Paul Janish <a href="http://##############.thelambda.sk/displayimage.php?pos=-82">New England PatriotsRob Gronkowski Jersey[名门贵族_妈妈心声 ...</a> as the primary starter, but he struggled to hit and was demoted to Triple-A. Renteria was signed in the offseason but also has disappointed, batting .232 with one homer and 14 RBIs. The Reds had Orlando Cabrera as their primary shortstop last season, when they won the NL Central, but declined to pick up his 4 million option. -- Joe Kay Pirates’ Presley scratched from lineup PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates rookie outfielder and leadoff hitter Alex Presley was scratched from the lineup for Saturday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals due to a left thumb contusion. Presley, who is hitting .333 and has hit safely in 15 of his 20 games, said he jammed the thumb in Friday night’s loss to St. Louis and is having trouble swinging. Presley said x-rays were not scheduled to be taken. Third baseman Chase d’Arnaud replaced Presley in the lineup, creating a domino effect of three other players switching positions. This series is one of the biggest in PNC Park’s 11-year history. The Pirates (51-46) haven’t had a winning record since 1992 but are tied with Cardinals a game behind Milwaukee in the NL Central. Marlins option Volstad to minors MIAMI (AP) — Florida Marlins right-hander Chris Volstad has been optioned to Triple-A New Orleans in the wake of his latest rocky outing. Volstad lasted only five innings and gave up four runs, three earned, against the New York Mets on Friday. That lifted his ERA to 5.58, third-highest in the major leagues. Volstad 5-8 in 20 starts. Manager Jack McKeon said he anticipated Volstad would rejoin the rotation later this season. The 24-year-old Volstad was also demoted to New Orleans in July last year. He returned to the Marlins and went 8-1 in his final 13 starts.