CHICAGO — For the second time in his 10 starts, Randy Wells gave up five runs in the first. On Friday, though, the Cubs right-hander was unable to get an out.
Wells was pulled after serving up six straight hits to the St. Louis Cardinals, including a two-run single by Albert Pujols. St. Louis tallied five runs in the first. On May 6, the Pirates also scored five runs in the first against Wells. He lasted two innings in that game.
"You don't want a guy like Pujols to beat you," manager Lou Piniella said before the game. "He's the one guy in that lineup if you can stay away from that situation, you're better off, over the short term or long term for sure."
It was Wells' shortest start ever. He had trouble from the beginning, giving up a single to Felipe Lopez, a double to Ryan Ludwick, a two-run single to Pujols, a single to Matt Holliday, an RBI single to Colby Rasmus and a two-run double to Yadier Molina. Wells threw 16 pitches, 11 for strikes.
Rookie James Russell replaced Wells, and retired the next three batters.
Wells is the first Cubs starter since Geremi Gonzalez on April 2, 1998, to fail to get an out in a start. Gonzalez threw 29 pitches, 11 for strikes against the Florida Marlins. He gave up six runs in that game on three hits, including one homer, and walked four.
According to Elias Sports Bureau, the last time the Cubs gave up six straight hits to open a game was Aug. 5, 1975, when they served up eight straight at Veterans Stadium against the Phillies. Bill Bonham started the game and gave up seven consecutive hits without getting an out and was relieved by Ken Crosby, who then gave up one hit before recording the first out of the inning. The Cubs lost the game, 13-5
The last time the Cardinals got six hits in a row was May 15, 1994, in Montreal. Kirk Rueter served up six straight hits, although he did record an out with a caught stealing. The Expos came back with four runs in the bottom of the ninth to win, 9-8.