CHICAGO — Of all the Cubs' pitchers named Carlos, the last one you expected to open the season 5-0 would be Carlos Silva. After all, he was a combined 5-18 the past two seasons with Seattle.
But the right-hander, who improved to 5-0, is in a better place now, mentally and physically.
Rookie Tyler Colvin had three hits, picked up his first Major League stolen base and scored two runs to back Silva, as the Cubs defeated the Colorado Rockies, 6-2, on Tuesday night.
"Every game he's pitched, he's been very competitive and we've scored some runs for him, and at the same time, our bullpen has done a nice job," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said of the veteran, acquired in December from the Mariners for Milton Bradley. "He throws a lot of strikes, he changes speeds and throws enough breaking balls to keep the hitters off his fastball. He does a nice job."
Silva has improved his mental approach this year and gets a lot of help from his family. His wife, Maria, sends him a text message before every game with a positive vibe, reminding the right-hander he can be successful in the big leagues.
"Carlos did an awesome job tonight," said Ryan Theriot, who added a two-run single in the eighth.
The win marked the first time Chicago has won three in a row since April 30-May 2. You could credit Yoshi Nakazawa, the 47-year-old Japanese masseuse. He's 3-0 since taking over the bat-boy duties.
Silva deserves the kudos. He's the first Cubs pitcher to start 5-0 since Greg Maddux did so in 2006. He's the first to begin his Cubs career 5-0 since Jon Leicester in '04, although Leicester notched his wins in relief. Silva is the first Cubs starter to accomplish the feat since Mark Clark in 1997.
"The game's over. I enjoyed it already," Silva said. "It's time to get ready for the next one."
Silva did this once before in 2004 with Minnesota. He finished with 14 wins that year. On Tuesday, Silva threw six scoreless innings, then walked Troy Tulowitzki to open the seventh. Todd Helton followed with his first home run of the season on a 3-2 pitch.
"I don't like to walk anybody," Silva said. "I didn't want to shake off [catcher Geovany] Soto. Whatever he called, I was going to throw it. I shook him off. He called a changeup, I shook him off and threw a fastball, and [Helton] hit a homer."
You can bet Silva will think twice before shaking off Soto the next time.
"I was leading, 3-0, [and I thought] maybe throw a fastball and get a double play — that was the only thing I had in my mind," Silva said. "That's one of the best hitters in the game."
The right-hander struck out four, including Brad Hawpe to end the sixth. Silva pumped his right arm enthusiastically to celebrate the punchout.
"One thing I've been doing this year is trying to be myself," he said. "I am a pitcher who has a lot of emotion. I just let it go, be myself. I'm not trying to be anybody else. I just get excited about what we're doing like [Carlos] Zambrano, [Carlos] Marmol, everybody. We're playing good baseball. Let's enjoy it."
Silva isn't surprised at his success this year.
"I was surprised by the last two years [in Seattle] and how bad I was doing," Silva said. "I know I weigh 275 pounds and some people don't think I work hard. I work really hard and try to earn everything that happens in my life. This year, I worked so hard. I'm a big guy, but I work hard."
He gave credit to the Cubs' athletic trainers — Mark O'Neal and Ed Halbur — for their work on his shoulder. It gave him trouble the past two years. Not now.
"We didn't know [what to expect]," Piniella said of Silva. "The one good thing we found out rather quickly in Spring Training was that he was healthy. When a pitcher is healthy and has had success in the past, like he did in Minnesota, you figure you have a chance to get good production. We're fortunate."
Silva admitted he took advantage of the elements. The wind was blowing in at Wrigley Field, which benefits pitchers.
"It's his changeup," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said of Silva. "He threw a lot of first-pitch changeups tonight, threw a lot of hitter's-count changeups. In my opinion, he did an excellent job of pitching around his fastball. He didn't pitch with his fastball, he pitched around it. That's the reason Carlos Silva you see now is 5-0 vs. the tough time he had last year in Seattle."
The Cubs have struggled to score and missed a chance in the first, when they loaded the bases with two outs and Rockies starter Jhoulys Chacin (2-2) struck out Colvin to end the inning. The rookie delivered in the fourth. The Cubs had runners at first and third after Aramis Ramirez walked and advanced on Marlon Byrd's single. Colvin, starting his second game in a row, then singled to give Chicago a 1-0 lead.
"I try to go out there and stay the same and perform the way I can," Colvin said.
Soto walked to load the bases, and Starlin Castro hit a fielder's choice, forcing Soto at second. Another run scored. Kosuke Fukudome followed with an RBI single to make it 3-0.
Colvin singled to lead off the eighth, his third hit of the game, then notched his first stolen base, moving to third on a throwing error by catcher Paul Phillips. One batter later, Colvin scored on Castro's infield single.
The kids — Colvin and Castro — can play. Castro now has reached base safely in 10 of his 11 Major League games, while Colvin picked up his second career three-hit game.
"Both of them are mature beyond their years," Theriot said. "I was talking to someone the other day about Starlin, and he doesn't play like he's 20 years old. He carries himself with maturity and that's hard to get. He's got it, and I'm super excited to see where it goes."
Another youngster, rookie James Russell, can expect more action in close situations after retiring the side in the Rockies' seventh and stranding a runner. Zambrano, whom the Cubs want to use in long relief to prepare him for a return to the rotation, pitched the ninth and struck out two of the three he faced. He seemed sharper than in his setup appearances.
Maybe the ninth inning is best for Big Z?
"No, no, no," Piniella said. "We're very pleased with all three Carloses in their respective roles."
Especially Silva.