Friday, May 25, 2001
Cubs' Lieber makes it look easy
By NANCY ARMOUR
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO — It looked as easy as a game of catch in his backyard.
Despite an 1 1/2-hour rain delay, Jon Lieber never lost his smooth rhythm, pitching a one-hitter to give the Chicago Cubs a 3-0 victory Thursday and hand the Reds their first shutout loss in almost two years.
“I wish I could throw every game like that,” he said.
Lieber (4-3) faced the minimum number of batters, allowing only a single in the sixth inning and a walk in the ninth. He threw just 79 pitches, 55 for strikes.
He got to a double-digit pinch count in only two innings, throwing 10 pitches in the eighth and 16 in the ninth.
“It was just fun watching him making it look that easy,” Cubs reliever Kyle Farnsworth said. “He makes it look easy every day, but today, 79 pitches? That's ridiculous. It's just amazing.”
Lieber ended the Reds' streak without a shutout at an NL-record 208 games.
“All good things will come in good time,” said Sean Casey, who went 0-for-3. “But today, Lieber pitched well and we didn't swing the bats. That's just the way it is.”
Lieber has 14 complete games in his career, and his previous best was a two-hitter last July 3 against Pittsburgh. Even though the start of Thursday's game was pushed back 55 minutes by rain, Lieber came out firing from the start.
He retired his first 14 batters before the rain delay, and needed only 29 pitches to do it.
When the rain came in the bottom of the fourth, he went back in the clubhouse, put a few hot packs on his arm and talked to his teammates.
“I just tried to stay loose,” he said. “I didn't feel that bad, so I was just hoping it wasn't going to be too long of a rain delay and I could go back out.”
Cubs manager Don Baylor never even gave it a second thought. When he saw Lieber's pitch count, he knew the right-hander was going back in.
When the game resumed after 1 hour, 37 minutes, Lieber threw for about 10 minutes in the bullpen and then retired five more batters. His bid for a perfect game ended in the sixth when Juan Castro singled to right center.
“He threw a slider and I didn't hit it too hard. I'm just glad Sammy didn't get it,” Castro said. “He's a good pitcher, a guy who won't walk you very much. Today he got his pitches all where he wanted them.”
Lieber didn't let Castro stay on base for long. Scott Winchester attempted a sacrifice bunt, and Lieber snagged it and threw hard to Ricky Gutierrez to get Castro. Gutierrez then threw to Eric Young, who got Winchester at first for the double play.
He gave up three balls to a hitter only twice, the last two of the game. He walked Castro, and then got to 3-2 on pinch-hitter Ruben Rivera, but Rivera grounded into a double play.
Even with the rain delays, the game lasted only 1:48.
“It's a joy to be around when a pitcher gets in a rhythm like that,” Young said.
Cubs Notes: The Cubs have won five straight, tying their season-high winning streak. ... Ron Coomer left the game in the third inning with tightness in his left calf. He was 0-for-2, snapping his 11-game hitting streak.
Reds Stories
Few seat holders oppose deal
DAUGHERTY: Bengals take customers for a ride
Scott still no-show at Bengals' workouts
Copeland returns at big pay cut
UC's Peek wins student-athlete award
Xavier likely to save last two scholarships
Fultz fails to make Winston Cup race
Pitching pushes CCD
Hitting lifts Mariemont
Regional baseball schedule
State tennis tourney begins today
Hamilton squeaks into softball final
Softball schedule
Regional track highlights
Boys lacrosse results
Boys volleyball schedule
N.Ky. baseball highlights
N.Ky. baseball schedule
N.Ky. boys track preview
N.Ky. girls track preview
N.Ky. track results
N.Ky. softball highlights
N.Ky. softball schedule
• Return to Reds front page...
Cubs' Lieber makes it look easy
