Levine: Wood Beats Diamondbacks With His Arm And His Bat
By Bruce Levine-
(CBS) -- Travis Wood pitched and hit his way to his first win of 2014 on Monday night.
The Cubs' left-handed starter went seven innings, allowing just one run on six hits. Dealing with a lack of run production behind him over the past two seasons, Wood also hit a three-run homer off of Arizona starter Bronson Arroyo in the second inning to give him a secure path to victory in an eventual 5-1 win.
The Cubs, who have lost six straight series to start the season, scored four runs in the second inning, including Woods' seventh career home run. Wood also doubled to deep center field in the fourth inning.
"It was a good night," Wood said. "Feels good to be respected to do your job at he plate as well."
Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson was so concerned with Wood hitting in the sixth inning that he took out Arroyo with the bases loaded, replacing him with J.J. Putz, who induced Wood to hit into a 1-2-3 double play to end the frame.
"I was (expecting to get a hit)," Wood said.
Arizona, off to the worst start in franchise history, saw its record fall to 5-17.
Wood's record is now 1-2 with a 2.52 ERA. The only mistake Wood made was a hanging breaking ball to Mark Trumbo for a homer in the seventh.
"It was supposed to be a back-door slider," Wood said. "It kind of hung there and he did what he was supposed to do."
Wood became the first Cubs pitcher two have two extra-base hits in a game since Carlos Zambrano turned the trick in 2009.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
