[K0ZZ]

Cubs burn out

After an extremely promising start to the month, the Cubs returned to old traditions in facing two of the better NL teams that the league has to offer in San Diego and San Fransisco, the two California based clubs beat the Cubs in a matter of 2-5 and 21-33 score difference across the two match ups. Travis Wood and Chris Archer would be the only two pitchers to pick up wins on the road trip to the west coast.

Travis Wood posts a beautiful 4-0 shut out victory against a high powered offense as the Cubs manage to stun Andrew Cashner and give the pitcher his 3rd loss of the season, where as the two pitchers with losing records for the Padres pick up wins in Josh Johnson and Eric Stults who are a combined 8-14. Starlin Castro batted .381 in the series while Javier Baez added a pair of doubles in batting .290, but it wouldn't be enough. Jake Arrieta picks up his fifth loss in the Cubs final game against the Padres, Ian Kennedy jumps to .500 despite a 1.68 ERA, the Padres seemingly lacking runs when he plays, not on this Sunday after noon as they put up 6 runs against the Cubs struggling pitcher.

In the series opener against the Giants, Chris Archer out dueled Matt Cain of the San Fransisco Giants, allowing 1 run in 7 innings and improving to 5-3 on the season with his victory over the Giants, the only of the series.Travis Wood couldn't continue his win streak and despite 50 strike outs on the season, Travis Wood has an ERA at 4.27 and his record dipped to 2-6 with a 5-9 loss against the Giants. Jason Hammel and Tim Lincecum engaged in a duel of past aces, and Lincecum emerged victorious by virtue of shutting out the Cubs while Hammel allowed only 2 runs but lost his 7th game of the season.

The Cubs closed out the month with a pair of games against the Milwaukee Brewers and turned things around dramatically, Junichi Tazawa picked up his 3rd win of the season with the Cubs 3 run rally in the eighth inning to boost the Cubs back into winning territory, thanks to home runs by Jed Gyorko and Anthony Rizzo, who were each responsible for 3 runs on their shots. Jake Arrieta allowed 3 runs in 6 innings while striking out 5 and didn't get a decision in this one as it'd take until the 12th inning for the Cubs to emerge, after PEdro Strop pitched 3 scoreless innings to get the Cubs through the elevnth and Jose Veras shut down the game for his 13th save of the season.