Pomeranz, Padres blank Cubs to sweep doubleheader
CHICAGO -- Drew Pomeranz struck out 10 and allowed just three hits through six shutout innings as the San Diego Padres edged the Chicago Cubs 1-0 to complete a day-night doubleheader sweep on Wednesday.
The Padres right-hander (4-3) made the most of Christian Bethancourt's fifth inning solo home run en route to his second straight win while San Diego (15-20) handed the Cubs (25-8) back-to-back losses for the first time this season.
The Padres beat the Cubs 7-4 in Wednesday's early game of the split twin bill.
Reliever Brad Hand, the third Padres pitcher of the night, worked out of a bases loaded jam with two out in the eighth with an inning-ending strikeout of Jorge Soler.
San Diego closer Fernando Rodney faced four batters in the ninth and got Ben Zobrist on an infield grounder for the final out to collect his 10th save and second of the day.
Cubs starter John Lackey (4-2) was nearly as effective at Pomeranz through an eight-inning outing before he was pulled for a pinch hitter.
Lackey allowed one run on three hits, struck out seven and walked none. He threw 112 pitches, 81 for strikes.
Wednesday's second game quickly settled into a pitchers' duel.
Pomeranz gave up two first-inning hits before Anthony Rizzo grounded into a double play. After that, Pomeranz was difficult to touch, striking out 10 in six scoreless innings. He allowed three hits and three walks.
Lackey, meanwhile, retired 14 consecutive batters until he faced Christian Bethancourt with two outs in the fifth. The San Diego catcher lined a 1-0 pitch into the left field bleachers for a solo home run and a 1-0 lead.
In Wednesday's first game, Brett Wallace clubbed a go-ahead, three-run homer in the seventh inning in the Padres' 7-4 victory over the Cubs.
Reliever Carlos Villanueva (1-0) worked one inning -- the sixth -- for the win, and Fernando Rodney pitched a perfect ninth for his ninth save of the season. Chicago reliever Pedro Strop (1-1) faced five batters and gave up three earned runs in a rocky seventh to take the loss.
NOTES: Alex Dickerson on Tuesday became the first Padres player to hit a pinch grand slam for his first career home run. ... San Diego departs Chicago for the 90-mile trek to Milwaukee for Thursday's opener of a four-game weekend series at Miller Park. RHP James Shields (1-5, 3.60 ERA) goes against Brewers RHP Jimmy Nelson (4-2, 3.74). ... The Cubs and Padres meet again at Petco Park for a three-game series from Aug. 22-24. ... Cubs C Miguel Montero, on the 15-day disabled list with lower back tightness, went 0-for-3 with Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, his first appearance in a game since April 24. ... The Cubs have Thursday off before opening a three-game weekend series against the Pirates. RHP Jason Hammel (4-0, 1.85) faces LHP Francisco Liriano (3-1, 3.60) on Friday afternoon.