Thursday, April 16, 2009

14-pitch at-bat flustered Chicago Cubs' Rich Harden

Starter lost concentration after striking out first 4

Rich Harden started out like he was going to match Kerry Wood's 20-strikeout game in 1998, fanning the first four Colorado batters.

But Harden struggled with his control in the second inning Wednesday, falling behind hitters and running up his pitch count.

Manager Lou Piniella didn't seem to blame Harden for the outing, which was his first loss in Wrigley Field.

"It was a cold, blustery day," Piniella said. "His stuff was good. The results weren't."

Harden had eight strikeouts in only three innings but wasn't sharp otherwise. A 14-pitch at-bat by Garrett Atkins in the second, when Atkins fouled off eight straight before striking out, was the start of the downfall.

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