Chicago Cubs center fielder Marlon Byrd makes a diving attempt at a fly ball from San Francisco Giants’ Andres Torres during the third inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Monday. (AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS) — Pitcher Randy Wells was all the Cubs needed against the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants, but then the Cubs’ bats came alive too.
The Cubs blanked the Giants 7-0.
Wells (6-4) pitched a two-hitter for his first career complete game while the Cubs backed him with four home runs to snap a four-game losing streak.
Carlos Pena accounted for the fourth homer, a solo shot off reliever Steve Edlefsen in the seventh.
It was the third time this season that the North Siders have had four or more home runs in one game. The Cubs have 38 home runs in August, most in the National League.
On the Giants’ side, pitcher Tim Lincecum sunk to a new low, in giving up three homers and allowing five runs for the Cubs.
“To do that kind of damage against Lincecum was a huge plus,” Cubs manager Mike Quade said. “When it was 1-0, you think it might just end up that way. The offense was fantastic.”
But the way Wells has been pitching, it didn’t matter what Lincecum did.
Wells faced only four batters over the minimum and only allowed two runners to reach second base. He matched his season-high of seven strikeouts and walked one while winning his third consecutive start on the road. The right-hander, who hasn’t lost since July 28, improved to 2-1 in four career starts against the Giants.
Alfonso Soriano’s home run was his 23rd of the season, one shy of tying Pena and Aramis Ramirez for the team lead.
Soto’s homer, leading off the seventh, snapped an 0-for-25 streak by the Cubs’ catcher.
As for the Giants, altogether they managed only a two-out double by Andres Torres in the third and Mike Fontenot’s pinch-hit single with one out in the eighth. Beyond that, the Giants managed only a walk against Wells.
Lincecum finished with four walks and four strikeouts. He needs seven more to reach 200 for the fourth consecutive season.
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