Cubs get 2nd chance at Yankees' Masahiro Tanaka
Rick Renteria says the Cubs know what to expect from unbeaten Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka on Tuesday night. He just hopes his hitters are able to respond.
'You have an idea that he loves his (splitter), and we definitely have to make sure we get the ball up,' Renteria said of the Japanese star.
In his first season in the big leagues, Tanaka is 6-0 with a 2.17 ERA. He shut out the Cubs for eight innings on two hits in a 3-0 victory on April 17, striking out 10. The Yankees blanked the Cubs in both ends of that doubleheader.
The Cubs were able to beat the Brewers' Marco Estrada for the first time on Sunday with timely, patient hitting.
'Just have to be ready at home plate,' said Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro, who had a pair of doubles. 'Don't think too much. I know how to hit. I don't want to put pressure on myself.'
Quality first: Pitching isn't everything in the majors. At least not with the last-place Cubs, whose pitchers have thrown 23 quality starts. Curiously, the team's record in those games is just 9-14.
Jeff Samardzija (0-4) hasseven quality starts in his nine outings, Travis Wood (4-4) has five in nine starts.
'I'm trying to get back to throwing strikes and pounding the zone, not trying to be too perfect,' said Wood, who was rewarded with a win Sunday against the Brewers. 'Just let the defense work behind us and whatever happens, happens.'
Extra innings: The last time the Cubs hosted the Yankees was June 17-19, 2011, when New York took two of three. Before that, they played at Wrigley Field June 6-8, 2003, when the Cubs won two out of three. ... The Cubs are 1-21 when trailing after six innings. They are 0-23 when trailing after eight innings.
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