CENTRAL
Cubs
Jeff Samardzija struck out a season-high 10 for his first win since last August, snapping a 16-start winless streak for Chicago. The right-hander entered with six no-decisions in his first 10 outings this year despite leading the majors with a 1.46 ERA. “I’m not a big accolades guy,” said Samardzija told The Chicago Tribune. “I’m not a big goals guy, outside of 200 innings. I just understand your game speaks for itself and you do your job and do it well, people notice. And things like that happen to take care of themselves.”
Brewers
Before Jimmy Nelson’s season debut last week, the Brewers were the only NL team to use just five starting pitchers this season. … Manager Ron Roenicke said reliever Jim Henderson’s rehab outing for Double-A Huntsville didn’t go as well as the team had hoped. “He felt a little irritation (in his shoulder). I don’t think it’s a huge setback, but we were really hoping for a clean outing.” A second scheduled outing today was scrapped.
Cardinals
Adam Wainwright won 19 games last season and finished second in the NL Cy Young voting. So far, his encore is even better. Wainwright became the NL’s first eight-game winner last week. “I’ve never felt like this,” the 31-year-old pitcher said. “That’s part of of the evolution of me. I expected to get better as I got older, and a little wiser. Now that I’m over 30 years old, I don’t think there’s any reason for me to start to decline. I think I should still try to get better and expect to get better.”
Pirates
Ike Davis is quite happy in his new home. “Going to get coffee and I don’t get hitting tips,” Davis said of the difference between playing in Pittsburgh and New York. Of course, that might be more a reflection on how well he’s hitting than the change of scenery. Davis is batting over .300 for the Pirates since arriving in a trade with the Mets on April 18 for minor league right-hander Zack Thornton and a player to be named. The 27-year-old first baseman was dealt after being benched in favor of Lucas Duda, but the Mets had long before soured on the once promising prospect who was popular in the clubhouse even as he lost favor with upper management.
Reds
RHP Mat Latos made his first rehab start for Triple-A Louisville, allowing three hits and two runs in four innings. The Reds want him to make at least two more starts in the minors.
Compiled by Rick Crotts from wire reports.
