Former American League prospect Daniel Cabrera makes his
first start in an Arizona uniform today when the D-Backs visit Wrigley
Field for the middle test of a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs.
A 6-foot-9, 269-pounder from the Dominican Republic, Cabrera began his career
with a flourish in Baltimore, winning 12 and 10 games in consecutive seasons
in 2004 and 2005. He strung together nine, nine and eight wins in the
subsequent three seasons in the AL, then signed with the Washington Nationals
as a free agent prior to 2009.
The Nationals experiment failed to the tune of an 0-5 record in nine games --
eight starts -- leading to his departure for Arizona, where he's made five
relief appearances and posted a 7.50 earned run average, allowing seven hits
and five runs with six strikeouts.
Cabrera, who has never faced the Cubs, allowed all five runs in a disastrous
first outing with the Diamondbacks but has been solid since, allowing five
hits and walking two in six scoreless innings.
His teams are 0-14 this season in games he's pitched.
For the Cubs, right-handed Illinois native Randy Wells can put a finishing
touch on a breakthrough season.
The 27-year-old had made four relief appearances with Toronto and Chicago
entering 2009, but has emerged as a double-digit winner after joining an
injury-ravaged staff early in the season.
He won his 11th game of the year at Milwaukee two starts ago on September 22,
allowing seven hits and a run in six innings of a 7-2 triumph.
He dropped a 5-1 verdict at San Francisco in one subsequent outing,
surrendering 10 hits and five runs in 5 1/3 innings.
Wells has never faced Arizona.
On Friday, Eric Byrnes hit two home runs in a 4-for-5 day and drove in five
total runs, leading the Diamondbacks in a 12-3 rout.
Rookie Rusty Ryal, who came into the game with five career RBI, drove in four
for Arizona, which snapped a three-game slide. Chris Young went 4-for-4 with a
homer and four runs scored, and Stephen Drew had three hits and an RBI.
Billy Buckner (4-6) allowed three runs on six hits and four walks in 6 1/3
innings to win his second consecutive decision after dropping five straight.
Jake Fox, Aramis Ramirez and Micah Hoffpauir each drove in a run for the Cubs,
who have lost three in a row. Tom Gorzelanny (7-3) allowed seven runs (six
earned), seven hits and a walk in just three frames to take the loss.
Arizona took two of three meetings from the Cubs in Phoenix back in April and
has won five of the last seven overall matchups between the teams.
©2009 Sports Network. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
