5/29 A perfect start for Silva
Carlos Silva set a career-high with 11 strikeouts on Saturday. If he gets the win — and am posting this before Saturday’s game ends — he’ll be first Cubs pitcher to begin the season 7-0 since Ken Holtzman opened 1967 at 9-0. (There’s been some confusion on this — the Cubs PR folk say Holtzman is correct).
Silva, whom the Cubs acquired in December from Seattle for Milton Bradley, topped his previous strikeout high, which was eight, set June 12, 2004. He gave up two hits, both by Matt Holliday, who singled in the second and doubled in the seventh. It’s been quite a turnaround for Silva, who was 5-18 in two seasons with the Mariners. He did not walk a batter and was pulled after throwing a season-high 100 pitches.
– Carrie Muskat
mlblogsmuskat1
