Levine: Travis Wood Steps Up For Cubs In Emergency Relief

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Long relief can be a thankless job in baseball, but it was the panacea for all that ailed the Cubs on Monday in a 2-0 win against the Dodgers at Wrigley Field.

Left-hander Travis Wood became the man of the hour by throwing four perfect innings in emergency relief after start Jason Hammel suffered a cramp in his right hamstring between the bottom of the second inning and the top of the third. Hammel left after shutout two innings, allowing one hit and one walk.

"As of right now, it felt like a cramp," Hammel said. "That is as bluntly as I can put it. We will wait and see tomorrow. I am very optimistic it was just a cramp."

Wood had been in the clubhouse hanging out, as relief pitchers sometimes do in working out or watching on TV early in the game.

"I came into games a couple of times like that last year," Wood said. "Nothing prepares you for that. At least they give you as much time as you want to get ready."

The quartet of Wood, Justin Grimm, Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon combined to throw seven perfect innings in relief of Hammel, and the end result was the Cubs' fifth shutout of the season. They moved to 35-14 and are 21 games over .500 for the first time this season.

While it was the players earning the win, some credit was due Monday to executives Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer for constructing a bullpen with four pitchers who can go long innings or be flipped into the rotation. Games like this could easily get away from some other teams, but the Cubs have a deep group of pitching that also includes Trevor Cahill, Clayton Richard and Adam Warren as long relievers.

"This is the way Theo and Jed built the team," said catcher David Ross, who caught the combined one-hitter. "They looked for insurance in the bullpen, and those guys can also give you just one inning. We have the best of both worlds down their in the pen. (Manager Joe Maddon) does a great job of handling those guys and keeping them fresh. All four guys had really good."

The Cubs have proved they can beat foes in close games or crush them with the long ball. Maddon has pushed the buttons on his 25-man roster really well and gotten the best out of his players.

It appears serious injury was avoided with Hammel, but health is still always on the forefront of Maddon's mind, even with the best record in baseball.

"Health -- you are always concerned about health," he said.

"That can encompass giving days off, making sure people get their rest. That is an important line of communication among all of us. That would be are biggest thing right now to get guys their appropriate rest. That and somehow stay healthy."

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.