(Sports Network) – On the disabled list in the first week of the season, Randy Wells has made a big recovery in the late going and has been real strong down the stretch for the Chicago Cubs.
Armed with a 5-0 mark over his last seven starts and without a loss since July 28, Wells has a chance to extend his career-best winning streak this afternoon against the New York Mets. The righty spent nearly two months on the DL earlier this year with a right forearm strain and went nearly two months without a win, but has been dominant lately.
In his last three starts, Wells has given up a total of two runs, covering 21 2/3 innings, all wins. That includes a two-hit shutout of the Giants on Aug. 29.
Wells has faced the Mets three times in his career, going 0-1 with a 3.06 ERA.
In 13 career games (11 starts), Mets starter Chris Capuano is 8-3 with a 3.88 ERA versus the Cubs. The southpaw has one win in his last seven appearances, that coming August 26 against the Braves. He was pounded for eight hits and six runs in a 9-3 loss to the Marlins on Monday.
Last night, Justin Turner knocked in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth to give the Mets a 5-4 victory.
Manny Acosta (3-1) blew the save in the top of the ninth but was given the win.
Turner had three hits and two RBI, and Jason Bay doubled twice and knocked in a run for New York, which was coming off a doubleheader sweep at the hands of the Braves on Thursday.
Sean Marshall (6-6) allowed the game-deciding run to take the loss.
Carlos Pena smacked a two-run homer as Chicago dropped its fifth game in eight tries.
Mike Pelfrey went 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks in the start for the Mets, while Casey Coleman allowed four runs on eight hits through five innings for the Cubs. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.
“I was up [in the zone] a little bit,” Coleman said. “They were more aggressive.”
Starlin Castro has reached base safely in a career-high 22 straight games, and is just the second Cub since 2003 to reach safely in 20 in a row while at shortstop. Ryan Theriot went 28 straight games in 2007.
The teams have split four games this season.