Results tagged ‘ Paul Maholm ’
7/24 Cubs lineup
While we wait for Ryan Dempster to make up his mind, here’s Tuesday’s lineup vs. the Pirates:
DeJesus CF
Castro SS
Rizzo 1B
Soriano LF
LaHair RF
Soto C
Barney 2B
Valbuena 3B
Maholm P
– Carrie Muskat
7/24 Extra bases
* Monday’s 2-0 win was the Cubs’ eighth shutout, third-most in the National League behind the Giants (11) and Mets (10).
* Paul Maholm takes the mound Tuesday night. He is 4-0 with a 0.92 ERA in his last four starts, and has thrown at least six innings with one or no runs in each outing. Since 1918, no Cubs left-hander has gone five straight starts with at least six innings pitched while giving up one or fewer runs in each outing.
* With Jeff Beliveau making his Major League debut on Sunday, the Cubs now have used 42 players, second-most in the NL. Of those, 11 are rookies.
– Carrie Muskat
7/19 Cubs lineup
The Cubs face former White Sox ace Mark Buehrle in the series finale against the Marlins. Paul Maholm enters with a 3-0 record and 0.81 ERA in his last four outings dating to June 29. Today, he will try to record a career-high four-game winning streak for the fourth time, and for the second time this season. He also did so April 21-May 9. Here’s the lineup:
Johnson CF
Castro SS
Rizzo 1B
Soriano LF
Baker RF
Soto C
Barney 2B
Valbuena 3B
Maholm P
– Carrie Muskat
7/15 Cubs vs. Marlins
Carlos Zambrano will not start this week when the Cubs play host to the Marlins in a three-game series, starting Tuesday. Here are the pitching matchups:
Tuesday: LHP Travis Wood (4-3, 3.05) vs.RHP Anibal Sanchez (4-6, 4.12)
Wednesday: RHP Jeff Samardzija (6-8, 4.71) vs. RHP Josh Johnson (5-6, 4.28)
Thursday: LHP Paul Maholm (7-6, 4.33) vs. LHP Mark Buehrle (8-8, 3.25)
– Carrie Muskat
7/7 Looking ahead
Dale Sveum had his post All-Star break rotation scribbled on a piece of paper on his desk Saturday:
Friday, July 13: RHP Ryan Dempster
Saturday, July 14: LHP Paul Maholm
Sunday, July 15: RHP Matt Garza
Monday, July 16: OFF
Tuesday, July 17: LHP Travis Wood
Wednesday, July 18: RHP Jeff Samardzija
– Carrie Muskat
7/4 Cubs lineup
The All-Star Game is considered the halfway mark in the season, but Wednesday is the Cubs’ official midway point. It’s game No. 81 of the season. Chicago has won six of its last eight games, it’s best eight-game stretch since Sept. 4-12, 2011. The Fourth of July hasn’t been kind. The Cubs have lost 11 of their last 13 games on the holiday. Paul Maholm takes the mound as the Cubs try to bounce back against the Braves. Here’s the lineup:
DeJesus CF
Castro SS
Rizzo 1B
Soriano LF
LaHair RF
Soto C
Barney 2B
Valbuena 3B
Maholm P
Extra bases:
* Tony Campana is second in the Major Leagues with 25 stolen bases, yet has played 57 games. He’s topped his season total of 24 set last year, and is one of three Cubs since 2000 to reach 25 steals before the All-Star break. The list includes Eric Young (27) in 2000 and Juan Pierre (30) in ’06.
* James Russell has a 2.28 ERA in 99 games out of the bullpen since the start of the 2011 season. It’s the second-lowest mark by a NL left-hander in that span.
* Matt Garza (4-6, 4.01 ERA) closes the series on Thursday against lefty Mike Minor (4-6, 6.20 ERA).
– Carrie Muskat
6/29 Extra bases
* In his 200th career start, Paul Maholm gave up four hits over 8 1/3 innings, walked one and struck out six. He’s 5-1 in nine games in which he’s gone at least six innings.
* Steve Clevenger hit his first Major League home run, a two-run shot to right.
* The Cubs have won five straight series opening games at Wrigley Field. They also are 21-15 when scoring four or more runs.
– Carrie Muskat
6/29 Confident Maholm gets “W”
Paul Maholm won for the first time in eight starts, and the secret may have been rookie catcher Steve Clevenger. The two meshed well on Friday in the 4-0 win. It also helped that Maholm got some offense as the Cubs hit three home runs.
“He was outstanding,” Dale Sveum said of Maholm. “All of his pitches — curveball, changeup – he kept them down. I think he had as good a sink as he’s had in a while. That was about as good as you could get. I wish he would’ve kept the ball down the last inning and finish it.”
Maholm held the Astros to two hits over eight innings, then gave up a single to Brian Bixler to start the ninth, and one out later, Carlos Lee doubled. That was enough, and Maholm was lifted for Carlos Marmol, who finished for his sixth save. Clevenger hit his first Major League home run, a two-run shot in the fourth, and Luis Valbuena hit an opposite-field home run in the second to back Maholm (4-7), who earned his first victory since May 9 in what was his 200th career start.
“I wanted it,” Maholm said of the chance for a complete game. “I understand the situation. I gave up two hits. After the last outing, I’ll take what I got.”
In his last outing, he gave up seven runs on nine hits over 3 1/3 innings against the Diamondbacks.
“Confidence is a huge factor, whether you’re hitting or pitching,” Maholm said. “You have to go out there confident with your game plan and keep the ball down and be aggressive. If you’re doubting your pitches, you’re doubting whatever, they won’t be as crisp. … I’ve faced [the Astros] a decent amount so I kind of know their tendencies. I go in there knowing them and am able to be confident and aggressive and keep it down.”
What was the difference?
“The rain, the delay — who knows?” Sveum said. “Some guys, just the way they feel in the bullpen, their sides, you never know. [It would've been the] confidence level they feel with the ball coming out of their hand in the bullpen. He was really good today.”
– Carrie Muskat
6/29 Cubs lineup
Bryan LaHair is in right field and Steve Clevenger catching on Friday as the Cubs open a three-game series against the Astros. This is the Cubs last home series before the All-Star break. Paul Maholm makes the start. He’s looking for his first win in eight starts. The lefty is 11-6 with a 3.31 ERA in 20 starts against Houston. The Astros may be a little jet lagged. They had a late game at home Thursday against the Padres. Here’s the lineup:
DeJesus CF
Castro SS
Rizzo 1B
Soriano LF
LaHair RF
Clevenger C
Barney 2B
Valbuena 3B
Maholm P
– Carrie Muskat
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