Rusch job

I didn't see much of today's game (like I'm getting up for a 12:30 start on a Sunday!), but from the stats and the highlights, it looked like Rusch did pretty well. Six innings, five hits, five Ks - 3 earned runs, but those were all on the same hit, so at least he wasn't just giving up hit after hit there. Rusch is a flyball pitcher; he's going to give up home runs sometimes. At least it was only one and not four like in his last start. Also, the Cubs were up 7-0 already when Wilson went deep, and the relievers handled things - three innings, two hits, no runs. It was good to see that Novoa pitched well - 1.2 IP, one hit, one walk, just 16 pitches. Given that they sent Wuertz down to bring Novoa up, it's good that he started off with a nice outing. More importantly, the Cubs got the series win - that's four series so far and just one loss (although just two wins thanks to the 1-1 season opener in Cincy). The Cubs have owned the Pirates at PNC recently, though.

Although the Cubs lost - it figures - I was also glad to see that Jerome Williams had a good game on Saturday. We really need a solid third starter to emerge in the absence of Wood, Prior, and Miller; Rusch still might be it if Sunday's game was indicative of him settling down, and Marshall's been decent but I don't want to have to lay that on a rookie if it can be helped. Let's see if Williams can keep it up.

Maddux goes tomorrow in the first game against the Dodgers. Night game; 9 PM out here, so I'm definitely watching that one. Hopefully it doesn't go too late.