Cubs’ Hart wins, then traded to Pirates
July 31, 2009
CHICAGO (AP)—Kevin Hart(notes) won the game and got traded.
Russ Ortiz(notes) lost it and got released.
That was the strange aftermath to the Chicago Cubs’ 12-3 victory over theHouston Astros on Thursday.
“It’s a little weird, a little different,” Hart said while still wearing aCubs’ sweat shirt in a mostly empty clubhouse after his former teammates hadrushed off to the airport.
Hart won his third straight start and moments after the game was traded tothe Pittsburgh Pirates in a five-player deal that landed John Grabow(notes) and TomGorzelanny(notes) with the Cubs.
Ortiz, who gave up nine hits and nine runs in 2 1-3 innings, was put onwaivers for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release.
Series at a Glance Houston 1 Chi Cubs 5 Mon, Jul 27 – Final 13th Houston 11 Chi Cubs 6 Tue, Jul 28 – Final Houston 0 Chi Cubs 12 Wed, Jul 29 – Final Houston 3 Chi Cubs 12 Thu, Jul 30 – Final
“It’s unfortunate that it didn’t work out with Russ,” Astros manager CecilCooper said.
“He had a few games in there that were pretty good, but just not enoughconsistency and we need to do that because otherwise you’re going to continue towear your bullpen out and kill them and we can’t afford to do that.”
Against the Mets five days ago, Ortiz (3-6) yielded five hits and six runsin 4 1-3 innings.
“It just wasn’t there, I guess lately. I shouldn’t say “I guess.” Itwasn’t there lately,” Ortiz said.
“So, they had to make moves that going to help. This team has a very goodchance to make the playoffs. So, that had to make a move that was going to helpthat, not hurt it.”
Hart was given big run support in his final appearance with the Cubs. JakeFox(notes) and Milton Bradley(notes) hit back-to-back homers to start a five-run third andKosuke Fukudome(notes) and Ryan Theriot(notes) had four RBIs each.
The Cubs have won 11 of 14 games since the All-Star break.
“No idea,” Hart said when asked if he any inkling he would be dealt.
“I get to hopefully go over there and move into the rotation and never giveit up,” he added.
Chicago Cubs reliever Kevin Gr… AP – Jul 30, 6:07 pm EDT
Hart gave up six hits and three runs, including homers to Carlos Lee(notes) and KazMatsui, in his six innings.
“It was not an easy thing to do, knowing that our starting pitcher wasprobably going in this deal today,” Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said.
But he said after the game that Hart was “great, he understood.”
“I told him that good trades are meant to help both clubs,” Hendry added.
The Cubs drove Ortiz out in the five-run third inning that started withconsecutive homers from Fox and Bradley. Alfonso Soriano(notes) then singled and scoredon Mike Fontenot’s(notes) triple into the right field corner before Koyie Hill’s(notes)sacrifice fly made it a five-run lead.
After Hart singled and Fukudome doubled him home for a 9-3 lead, Ortiz wasreplaced.
Fukudome hit a two-run bases-loaded single with two outs in the second andTheriot followed with a two-run double to give the Cubs a 4-1 lead. Fukudomeadded a run-scoring triple in the seventh and scored on Theriot’s RBI grounderfor a 12-3 lead. The Cubs beat the Astros 12-0 Wednesday.
Michael Bourn’s(notes) leadoff double and Matsui’s fourth homer quickly cut thelead to 4-3 in the third before the Cubs came up with five in the bottom half.
Lee’s 17th homer, a solo shot leading off the second, was his 19th career atWrigley Field and put the Astros ahead 1-0 in the second.
The Astros then loaded the bases on a single and two hit batsmen beforeOrtiz hit into an inning-ending double play with Cubs’ first baseman Derrek Lee(notes)making a leaping catch of a high throw from second baseman Mike Fontenot andtagging out the Astros’ pitcher.
NOTES: Ortiz is 0-5 in his last 10 starts. … Fukudome reached base fivetimes.
