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Injuries mounting for wounded Cubs
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Jeff Samardzija makes his first start in 12-5 loss to Phillies. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The Cubs were pounded again on Wednesday, losing 12-5 to the Phillies. As expected when key players go down with injuries, the losses are starting to pile up. The Cubs have now lost 4 straight games.
Jeff Samardzija made his first Major League start in place of the injured Carlos Zambrano. Samardzija was roughed up for seven runs in just 3 1/3 innings. Zambrano is on the 15-day disabled list and won't be activated until next week.
Ted Lilly has been on the disabled list since mid July. He is scheduled for a rehab assignment next week. Cubs manager Lou Pinella says Lilly might join the Cubs in San Diego when they begin their west coast trip.
Aramis Ramirez is also out of the lineup. He hasn't gone to the disabled list but has missed 69 games this season. Ramirez is still feeling pain in his recently dislocated shoulder. He received a cortisone shot on Tuesday and hopes to be back in the lineup in a few days.
Those three players are key for the Cubs if they plan to make the playoffs for the third straight year. Injuries are part of the game of course but it's tough to overcome when the reserves are forced into starting roles. Especially when two of the best Cubs pitchers go down.
After spending some time on the disabled list with a left oblique strain, Geovany Soto is back in the lineup. Soto is another key player the Cubs desperately need to return to the player he showed he can be last season. He has struggled since his return, striking out 8 times in just 15 at bats.
What's more frustrating for Cubs fans is that the St. Louis Cardinals won again. They lead the second-place Cubs by 4 games. The Colorado Rockies lead the wild-card by 4 games over the Cubs as well. It's not time to panic as there are still 50 games left. As with all injuries, you can only hope that there are no lingering effects once the players return to the lineup.
One positive from this could be the experience the reserves have been exposed to from the injuries. Pinella has gone with different lineups nearly every night, trying to find ways to replace a dangerous hitter like Ramirez. Some of the reserves have struggled but they can't be expected to produce numbers like an All Star in Ramirez.
Samardzija struggled tonight but hopefully he can bounce back from the rough outing. He might have one more start before Zambrano is back in the rotation.
So don't hit the panic button just yet, Cubs fans. It's the middle of August and there's plenty of time left.. The Cubs can still make the playoffs by winning the division or the wild card. Let's just hope that the wounded return to old form sooner than later.
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